Group management of a wireless power outage lighting system

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the presently disclosed embodiments may include a wireless power outage lighting system comprising one or more power change detection apparatuses and one or more wireless lighting modules where the system is implemented to allow management of multiple groups in the same area such that interference may be avoided when there are multiple transmissions in the same area. A power change detection apparatus may be configured to transmit to avoid interference with another power change detection apparatus. A power change detection apparatus may also be configured through the user input method to operate different groups of wireless lighting modules such that lighting zones may be created. Multiple lighting zone allow a user to configure lighting provided by the wireless power outage lighting system based on their preference.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/661,548 entitled “GROUP MANAGEMENT OF A WIRELESSPOWER OUTAGE LIGHTING SYSTEM” which was filed Jun. 19, 2012. Theentirety of the aforementioned application is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is directed generally to devices and applicationsfor the use of wireless control and wireless power in lighting devices.More particularly, the invention relates to the use of wireless controland wireless power in light emitting diode (LED) based devices primarilyfor illumination purposes.

Conservation and management of electrical power are a growing concernwith regard to both cost and environmental impact. In various lightingapplications, the use of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for illuminationis beginning to emerge as a lighting source with potential foraddressing these concerns. LED light sources have a long life, areenergy efficient, are durable and operate over a wide temperature range.While LED lighting is becoming an attractive option for certainapplications, it is not optimal for many applications. Therefore, thereis a need for improved LED lighting systems.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed generally to devices and applicationsrelated to the use of wireless control and wireless power in lightemitting diode (LED) based lighting devices. More particularly, thedevices and applications according to various embodiments of the presentinvention make use of wireless control and wireless power in lightingdevices to provide advantages that may include increased ease ofinstallation, increased ability to install lighting in locationsindependent of a connection to wired power, increased cost savings,increased energy efficiency, reduced energy consumption at times of peakdemand through controls and power management and in safety, security,and increased convenience for the end user.

Wireless control, as in relation to lighting facilities of the presentinvention, may be defined as any control aspect that provides acontrolling function to the lighting facility without the use of a wiredconnection, such as a wired control interface, wired power control, andthe like. Control aspects may include, but are not limited to, awireless remote control interface (e.g. RF remote control), a wirelesspower controller (e.g. control of the source of power to the LEDs, suchas including integrated energy storage device(s) and AC power), awireless control input (e.g. an environmental sensor input), internalprogrammed control (e.g. internal program store controlled through astate machine or processor), and the like. In embodiments, cost savingsand power management may be implemented through wireless control. Inembodiments, wireless control may enable a distributed intelligencearchitecture where the LED lighting facility may operate in anautonomous manner in response to its wireless control inputs or internalprogram. In embodiment, wireless control may be used in conjunction withwireless power to allow operation of the lighting facility completelyindependent of the power grid.

In some embodiments, wireless control allows the installation of thedevice in any indoor or outdoor location where light may be desiredwithout the need for a wired connection to control it. In someembodiments, wireless control is used in a lighting device with a wiredconnection but allows an alternate method of control of the light ratherthan by its wired connection. In some embodiments, a lighting circuitmay have multiple lights on the circuit, but wireless control built intothe lights on that lighting circuit may allow them to be independentlycontrolled.

Power sources that can be used stand-alone as described herein (i.e. notconnected to a traditional AC power source) are defined as wirelesspower sources. A wireless power source may be an energy storage devicesuch as a non-rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery, a capacitor,a fuel cell, and the like. A wireless power source may be derived froman energy harvesting method such as using solar cells, capturingradiofrequency energy, converting kinetic energy to electrical energy(including converting motion or tension into electrical energy),converting thermal energy into electrical energy, converting wind energyinto electrical energy, and the like. Multiple wireless power sourcesmay be used together in some embodiments. For example, a light bulb withan integrated rechargeable battery may also contain solar cells on itshousing and the ability to charge the integrated battery accordingly.

In some embodiments, a wireless power source integrated into thelighting device allows the installation of the lighting device in anyindoor or outdoor location where light may be desired without the needfor a wired connection to an AC power source. In other embodiments thereis a wired connection to an AC power source, but the wireless powersource is used when advantageous, for example as a backup power sourcein an emergency or as an alternative power source to provide energyefficiency or cost savings.

The embodiments described for the present invention may use wirelesscontrol and wireless power in conjunction with LEDs as a light sourcefor illumination. In one embodiment, a power uninterruptable LED lightwith sensor-based control for transferring to internal power in theevent of an AC power disruption is described. The power uninterruptableLED light may be designed in a housing type of a bulb, tube, lamp,fixture, retrofit fixture, and the like. The housing may containinternal wireless power in the form of an internal power source such asa rechargeable battery that can be used to power the light source upon adetected AC power disruption. For example, the power uninterruptable LEDlight may be a standard size light bulb that when plugged into astandard light socket acts normally as a light bulb, but in the event ofan AC power disruption may use the internal power source to continueemitting light through the power disruption. Several forms of wirelesscontrol can be used with the disclosed invention including AC powersensing, impedance sensing of the lighting circuit to determine theon/off state of controlling switches, remote control in the form of aradio frequency receiver, sensors built into the housing such as aswitch sensor, motion sensor or light sensor, and the like.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a wirelesslycontrolled LED light bulb containing an integrated power source wherethe wireless control is through built in sensors, program basedintelligence, remote control based on a communication interfacewirelessly, over the wire, and the like. With wireless control andwireless power integrated, the wirelessly controlled LED light bulb mayoperate autonomously in response to the input devices, internal timers,internal clock and/or internal program. It may have the ability to usethe integrated power source autonomously for grid shifting, loadshedding, independent control of the light sources on a single lightingcircuit, backup power, energy harvesting when an energy harvesting powersource is integrated in the bulb, or any application-specific functionin which an integrated power source may be advantageous.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a wirelesslynetworked LED light with sensor-based control. The wirelessly networkedLED light with sensor-based control may be designed in a housing type ofa bulb, tube, lamp, fixture, retrofit fixture, battery powered fixture,and the like. Building a networking capability into a removable andreplaceable wirelessly networked LED light bulb creates the ability toplug bulbs in such that they become part of the network without runningnew wiring (i.e. a plug and play lighting network). This is enabled bybuilding the ability to receive control and programming over a networkas well as forward or route traffic to other wirelessly networked LEDlights that are part of the network into the lights themselves. If thewirelessly networked LED light is a removable device such as a bulb,tube or lamp, it may be installed as a light source and a node in thelighting network by installing it in a standard socket. Networked bulbs,tubes, lamps, fixtures, retrofit fixtures and battery powered fixturesmay operate in a coordinated fashion, where one or more light sourcesare operating with battery only, battery and AC or AC only power sourcesalong with any control source within the group. In some embodiments, thesource of the control for one or more lights in the group may be one ofthe lights in the group in response to a control input that lightreceived. In addition to coordinating operation, the network may be usedfor communication purposes such that an extensible lighting network canbe installed by installing bulbs, tubes, lamps and battery powerfixtures in existing locations that do not require an electrician fornew wiring or special hardware other than what is contained with thewirelessly networked LED light itself.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a centralized poweroutage system bridged to a networked lighting system. The centralizedpower outage control may come in the form of a module that detects adisruption in the AC power source and transmits to a system of bulbs,tubes, lamps, fixtures, retrofit fixtures, battery powered fixtures, andthe like, to turn on, switch to backup power or change their mode ofoperation in some manner in response to the detected disruption inpower. The power outage module may be connected to an emergency lightingcircuit to transmit control to a networked lighting system when theemergency lighting circuit attempts to turn on emergency lighting. Dueto its integrated power source, a wirelessly controlled and/orwirelessly powered LED light may continue to operate in an emergencysituation as controlled by a power outage control module.

It should be appreciated that combinations of the foregoing concepts andadditional concepts discussed in greater detail below are contemplatedas being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. Inparticular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at theend of this disclosure, or elsewhere herein, are contemplated as beingpart of the inventive subject matter.

These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages ofthe present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and thedrawings. All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated intheir entirety by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention and the following detailed description of certainembodiments thereof may be understood by reference to the followingfigures:

FIG. 1 shows a method of group management for a wireless power outagelighting system;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a battery backed LED driver module;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a grid shifting system containing anenergy storage device in the electrical fixture;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a grid shifting system containing anenergy storage device in an external grid shifting controller;

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a grid shifting system for lightingdevices with an energy storage device in the lighting device;

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a grid shifting system for lightingdevices with an energy storage device in the external grid shiftingcontroller;

FIG. 7A shows a block diagram of a lighting device with internal timingfor grid shifting;

FIG. 7B shows a flow diagram of a lighting device with internal timingfor grid shifting;

FIG. 8A shows a block diagram of a lighting device with time of dayinference for grid shifting;

FIG. 8B shows a flow diagram of a lighting device with time of dayinference for grid shifting.

FIG. 9A shows a block diagram of a lighting device shifting a lightingload off the grid based on internally derived information;

FIG. 9B shows a flow diagram of a lighting device shifting a lightingload off the grid based on internally derived information;

FIG. 10A shows a block diagram of a lighting device shifting a lightingload off the grid based on an internal power source performancecharacteristic;

FIG. 10B shows a flow diagram of a lighting device shifting a lightingload off the grid based on an internal power source performancecharacteristic;

FIG. 11A shows a block diagram of a lighting device shifting a lightingload off the grid based on internally derived information associatedwith an energy distribution grid demand parameter;

FIG. 11B shows a flow diagram of a lighting device shifting a lightingload off the grid based on internally derived information associatedwith an energy distribution grid demand parameter;

FIG. 12 depicts an embodiment of an emergency lighting system;

FIG. 13 depicts an embodiment of a wireless lighting module; and

FIG. 14 depicts an embodiment of a switch sensing lighting unit;

FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of a wireless power outage lighting systemwhere a power change detection apparatus can avoid interference.

FIG. 16 illustrates embodiments of operating a plurality of power changedetection apparatuses in a wireless power outage lighting system.

While the invention has been described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, other embodiments would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art and are encompassed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed subject matter is described with reference to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elementsthroughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,specific details may be set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the subject innovation. It may be evident, however,that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the subjectinnovation. Moreover, the drawings may not be to scale.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for a power outagelighting management within an environment, comprising a power outagedetection device adapted to detect a power outage condition and towirelessly transmit power outage indication data to a plurality oflighting systems within the environment, where at least one of theplurality of lighting systems include an LED light source that ispowered by an internal power source. The plurality of lighting systemsmay include a light source that is powered selectively by either theinternal power source or an external power source. In response toreceiving the power outage power indication data, the lighting systemincluding the LED light source that is powered by the internal powersource may regulate a light intensity of the LED light source inaccordance with the power outage indication data, such as the lightintensity as a dimmed light condition, the light intensity as a fullbrightness light condition or other condition.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for a power outagemanagement for a plurality of lighting sources, comprising, for example,a plurality of lighting

facilities containing an LED lighting source, a power outage inputdevice, an internal power source, a control facility for manipulatingthe light output of the LED lighting source, and the like, wherein thelighting facility may provide light in response to a power outage signalreceived by the power outage input device indicating a power outagecondition; and a power outage detection device that monitors power atsome point in power distribution to detect the power outage condition,where the power outage detection device may wirelessly transmit thepower outage signal to the power outage input device of the at least oneof the plurality of lighting facilities when the power outage conditionis detected. In embodiments, the outage input device may contain awireless receiver to receive the power outage signal. The response maybe provided with an environmental input from a sensor input device inthe lighting facility in addition to the signal received by the poweroutage input device. The lighting facility may take the form of at leastone of a light bulb capable of mounting into a lighting fixture, alighting fixture, a retrofit lighting fixture, a lighting adapter, abattery powered lighting fixture, and the like. The centralizedcontroller may be running a software control program. The signal may bereceived from a web-based source. The web-based source may be on a localnetwork, on the Internet, and the like. The internal power source may bea rechargeable energy storage device integrated with the lightingfacility that is capable of supplying power to the lighting facilityindependent of the power distribution, and where the recharging may beprovided internal to the lighting facility at a time when the powerdistribution is available. The rechargeable energy storage deviceinternal to the lighting facility may be a battery, fuel cell, supercapacitor, and the like. The internal power source may be anon-rechargeable power source such as an alkaline battery. The lightingfacility may be disconnected and used as a portable lighting device. Thesensor may sense infrared, temperature, light, motion, acoustic, smoke,electromagnetic, vibration or other suitable input. The manipulating mayinclude, for example, switching on the light output, changing theillumination level of the light output, flashing the light output,changing the color content of the light output, and the like. The poweroutage module may contain an integral power source. The power outagemodule may contain a light source, where the power outage module may bedisconnected from a power source and used as a portable lighting device.The response may be provided with an environmental input from a sensorinput device in the centralized controller. The centralized controllermay contain pushbuttons, switches, dials, and the like to control thelighting facilities remotely. The centralized controller may be a poweroutage module monitoring an emergency lighting circuit to detect anindication that emergency lighting must be activated. In this way, thepower outage device may be connected to an emergency lighting circuit(e.g., not part of power distribution) but it may allow a wirelessextension of the emergency lighting circuit. In some embodiments, thepower outage module may be plugged into a wall outlet, screwed into anEdison socket or the like. In embodiments, the present invention mayprovide a detached lighting system that could be supplemental to aninstalled emergency lighting system by propagating the control through aconnected power outage device to the lights and as such provide a fulloff the grid power outage lighting system.

In an illustrative embodiment, a method for implementing groupmanagement of a wireless power outage lighting system that allowsmultiple power outage detectors (POD) to operate in the same area tocontrol different groups of wireless lighting modules or wirelesslighting devices is described for use in a Multiple Zone Wireless PowerOutage Lighting System 100. With reference to FIG. 1, illustrated is ablock diagram view of an embodiment of a Multiple Zone Wireless PowerOutage Lighting System 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the MultipleZone Wireless Power Outage Lighting System 100 includes one or morepower change detection apparatus 102/104 and one or more wirelesslighting modules or devices including but not limited to a ceilinglights 106, stair and hallway lights 108, light bulbs 110 such as LEDlight bulbs, lighting power supplies 112 such as battery backedballasts, LED drivers or inverters, wall lights 114, light fixtures 116and portable lights 118 such as lanterns, table lamps, flashlights andthe like. In such embodiments, a channel number or frequency ofoperation may be assigned to a power change detection apparatus suchthat it may control the wireless lighting modules or devices assigned tothe same channel number or frequency of operation. In embodiments, apower change detection apparatus may contain a wireless transmitter tocontrol wireless lighting modules or devices in response to a change inpower or a user action. In some embodiments, the power change apparatusmay use time division multiplexing or a time slot structure to avoidinterference when multiple power change detection apparatuses operate inthe same area. In some embodiments, each power change detectionapparatus may operate on its own frequency. It is to be appreciated thatthe power change detection apparatus and wireless lighting modules ordevices may have a user input interface to allow a user to set thechannel or frequency to operate on. The power change detection apparatusmay also be used as a remote control device with buttons, switches orsimilar to allow a user to control the operation of the wirelesslighting modules or devices in a remote control fashion independent of apower outage. In some embodiments, the power change detection apparatusmay be removable from an electrical outlet or wherever it is attached todetect an electricity outage and used as a remote control by a user. Insome embodiments, the power change detection apparatus may contain alight source. In one example, the power change detection apparatus maylook like a standard flashlight that plugs into the wall. Inembodiments, a wireless lighting module or device may contain a lightsource, energy storage device, a wireless receiver and a user inputinterface. By way of an example, a residence may have two power changeapparatuses installed and two sets of wireless lighting modules ordevices where it is desirable to have two zones that operateindependently. In the example, one set of a power change detectionapparatus and associated wireless lighting modules or devices may beinstalled on the first floor of a residence covering the living room,kitchen and dining room. A second set of a power change detectionapparatus and associated wireless lighting modules or devices may beinstalled on the second floor in the bedroom area. Each group ofdetection apparatus and lighting devices would work independently andwould be made operational by the mechanism that avoids interference intime, frequency or corruption of a transmitted message. In embodiments,when there is detected change in power, both power change detectionapparatuses will detect the change at nearly the same time. In order tooperate within the same area, a power change detection apparatus willeither have to avoid transmitting at the same time, on the samefrequency or do so by encoding or modulating the transmission such thatsimultaneous transmission more than one power change detection apparatuswill be received correctly by the wireless light modules or devices thatthe transmissions are intended to control. In embodiments when the powerchange detection apparatus may be used as a remote control device, itmay control the associated group of lighting devices. In suchembodiments, as a remote control a power change detection apparatus mayor may not have an interference avoidance mechanism.

In an alternate embodiment, a power change detection apparatus may havean input method that allows it to operate on more than one channel. Inone embodiment, given one or more wireless lighting modules or devicesin an area, the input method may comprise of multiple push buttons witheach button transmitting on a channel, frequency or similar that may bereceived by a subset of the modules or devices in the area such that auser may control zones of lighting devices independently from powerchange detection apparatus when it is used as a remote control.Referring to the example where there is one zone of lights on the firstfloor and one zone of lights on the second floor of a residence, thepower change detection apparatus plugged into an electrical outlet mayturn on or off all of the lights in response to a detected change in thestate of power however when the power change detection apparatus isremoved from the electrical outlet to be used as a remote control, onepush button may operate as a toggle on/off control for one zone and asecond push button may operate as a toggle on/off control for the secondzone allowing a user to turn on and off lights in zones as desiredrather than have control that can only operate all of the lights. Insome embodiments, the power change detection apparatus may have an allON or all OFF command that will turn lights on and off independent ofthe assigned channel, frequency or the like. In embodiments, the powerchange detection apparatus may control the lighting devices in anymanner described herein such as on/off control, brightness control,device configuration and the like. It is to be appreciated that anynumber of zones may be created that may be controlled by a power changedetection apparatus in any user input manner mentioned herein.

In embodiments of an intelligent wall switch, a wall switch may bedesigned to include a charging mode that may allow the switch to beclosed to allow charging of a rechargeable integrated power source inthe devices or on the circuit that it is controlling. The intelligentwall switch may provide a change in the electrical characteristics ofthe line to allow devices on the circuit to detect different modes. Byway of an example, a device with a switch sense circuitry may be able todetect charging mode remotely by measuring some electricalcharacteristic of the branch circuit and change state appropriately. Inthis example, detecting charging mode may allow a device to charge arechargeable integrated power source without powering the device fornormal operation.

In embodiments, an intelligent grid shifting system may be constructedusing an intelligent wall switch and a device with a rechargeableintegrated power source with the ability of the intelligent wall switchto enter a charge mode that the end device may detect or may beprogrammed to enter into a charge mode simultaneously with the wallswitch. In some embodiments, the intelligent wall switch and/or gridshifting device may be programmed directly at the switch or device viasome user interface with the configuration maintained on the switch ordevice. In embodiments, the intelligent grid shifting system maycommunicate with control systems for status and control of the gridshifting function provided by the intelligent grid shifting system. Insome embodiments, the intelligent wall switch includes the ability tocommunicate via wired or wireless connection as mentioned herein. Inembodiments, the intelligent wall switch and/or grid shifting device maybe programmed, configured or queried via the wired or wirelesscommunication interface by an external controller. In charge mode, theintelligent wall switch may automatically close the wall switch orbypass the wall switch allowing power to be applied to the circuit attimes when power was not intended to be applied to the circuit. If theend device may detect that the power is applied but the mode is chargemode, the end device may use the applied power only for chargingpurposes. The end device may detect charge mode using switch sensefunctionality, using a communication mechanism over the circuit, bymeans of synchronized operation with the intelligent wall switch suchthat both the switch and end device enter charge mode at the same timeor the like. In one embodiment, an intelligent grid shifting lightingsystem may be developed using an intelligent wall switch and one or morelighting devices with a rechargeable integrated power source, chargingcircuitry, switch sense functionality and a light source that may bepowered by either the external power input or the integrated powersource. In such an embodiment, the intelligent wall switch may beprogrammed to use time of day to enter charging mode when the lightingdevice may not be used, for example during night hours when there is nooccupancy in an office space. The lighting devices may detect that theintelligent wall switch is in charge mode and also enter charge mode. Assuch, the lighting devices use the external power source to charge theintegrated power source if needed and do not illuminate the lightsource. The intelligent wall switch may have user control, for examplean on/off switch, such that a user may turn the lighting devices on andoff as desired. If a user turns the lights on while in charging mode,the lighting devices may detect the change in switch state andilluminate the light source. In embodiments, the lighting devices have atime of day clock and enter charging mode approximately at the same timeas the intelligent wall switch. The intelligent wall switch may be anytype of switch or controlling device used to control an electrical orlighting circuit such as but not limited to toggle switches, dimmerswitches, three way or multi-way switches, timer controlled switches,motion sensor switches, push button or touch switches, paddle switches,solid state switches, slide switches, rotary switches, control panels,lighting control systems, dedicated charge mode devices and the like.The intelligent grid shifting system may be used for grid shifting forenergy efficiency, demand response applications, peak shedding, loadcontrol, load leveling, backup power or any other use of a hybrid powersystem mentioned herein.

In embodiments, a Battery Backed LED Driver may be constructed. FIG. 2shows a block diagram of the Battery Backed LED Driver 200 that may usethe external power source or integrated power source if the externalpower source is not available. The Battery Backed LED Driver 200 mayinclude an external power input 210, an AC/DC converter 220, batterycharger circuitry 230, a power source selection circuit 240, a step upLED driver 250, an integrated power source 260 and an external controlinput 270. A Battery Backed LED Driver 200 may be designed with powersource selection circuit 240 such that when external power is applied,the external power input 210 supplies power to the light source. Whenthe external power is no longer present the power source selectioncircuit 240 may automatically switch such that the integrated powersource 260 may supply power to the light source. In the illustrativeembodiment, the light source may be driven by the step up LED driver 250whether the power source is the external power input 210 or theintegrated power source 260. In the illustrative embodiment, the powerselection circuit 240 consists of diode and a FET to allow for theautomatic selection of the power source into the step up LED driver 250such that when power is supplied by the external input, the battery isdisconnected from the step up LED driver 250 and when power is notsupplied at the external input the FET connects the integrated powersource 260 to the step up LED driver 250. In embodiments the switchingcircuitry may consist of a relay, solid state switch, discrete circuitryand the like such that the desired power source may be supplied. It isto be appreciated that several methods of selecting and switching thepower source will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the step up LED driver 250 is a LinearTechnology LT3755 step up LED driver 250. It is to be appreciated thatany type of step up DC/DC converter and/or LED constant current drivercircuit may be used to supply power with the desired drivecharacteristics. It is to be appreciated that any alternate LED drivermay be used and that driver may be a step up driver, a step down driver,a buck boost driver or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the embedded battery supply 260 is a dualcell Li-Ion battery pack. The integrated power source 260 may be anyrechargeable battery type mentioned herein. In embodiments, theintegrated power source 260 may be non-rechargeable such as one or morealkaline batteries. In other embodiments, the integrated power source260 may be a capacitor, super capacitor, fuel cell etc. In theillustrative embodiment, the dual cell Li-Ion battery pack is chargedwith dual cell Li-Ion charging circuit based on the Microchip MCP73213battery charger. It is to be appreciated that any type of batterycharger circuit may be used to charge the desired type rechargeablebattery used as the integrated power source 260. In the illustratedembodiment, the AC/DC converter 220 may be any AC/DC converter circuitthat meets the requirements of the application. In embodiments, theBattery Backed LED Driver 200 may be designed into a housing to allow itto be integrated into LED lighting devices or used external to LEDlighting devices. The housing may have a mounting mechanism to allow itto be physically mounted inside or outside of an LED lighting device.Thus a Battery Backed LED Driver Module may be designed into a singularhousing to provide LED drive and battery backup capabilities with thefunctionality to select the power source and drive the LED light sourceintegrated into the module. In embodiments of a lighting system capableof reducing the power consumption but maintaining a light intensitylevel, the Battery Backed LED Driver 200 may be used wherein an externalcommand may be received from a demand response server or lightingcontrol system such that the driver may control the amount of powerconsumed from the two power sources in response to the external commandreceived. By way of an example, an LED light source may be driven by theBattery Backed LED Driver 200 wherein a constant current driver fromgrid power and a constant current driver from an energy storage devicemay provide power to the LED light source. The Battery Backed LED Driver200 may configure a mechanism to adjust the amount of power suppliedfrom each of the power sources and in some cases maintain a lightintensity level while shifting some or all of the power consumption tothe energy storage device.

The external control input 270 may receive an input or detect acondition that allows the Battery Backed LED Driver 200 to make adecision on which power source to use to power the light source. In theillustrated embodiment, the external control input 270 may receive aninput or detect the condition and control the shutdown input to theLT3755 such that the LT3755 will not drive the output. The externalcontrol input may enable or disable the integrated power source 260 tosupply power using FETs, relays or any other type of control that wouldallow the external control input 270 to enable or disable integratedpower source 240 and/or the external power input 210 from supplyingpower. The switching devices may be at any position in the circuit toimplement the required switching function. In embodiments, power may beshared such that intelligence in the Battery Backed LED Driver 200 maycontrol the power sources such that they both supply some amount ofpower. The Battery Backed LED Driver 200 may contain a battery leveldetector to provide an indication of the capacity remaining in theintegrated power source 260. By way of an example, an external LED maybe driven when the battery level voltage is below a threshold that mayindicate a low battery level. The external LED may be mounted in theceiling to provide a visual indication of the battery capacity level orif the battery is being charged. An indication of the battery capacitylevel or charging may be provided in any manner described herein.

In embodiments of a battery embedded module for use in retrofit LEDfixtures, the battery embedded module may be used for grid shiftingapplications. In some embodiments, the Grid Shifting Battery EmbeddedLED Driver Module may contain elements of the Battery Backed LED Driver200 or the like to allow the integrated power source to be used for gridshifting for energy efficiency, demand response applications, peakshedding, load control, load leveling, backup power or any other use ofa hybrid power system mentioned herein. In embodiments, intelligence maybe designed into the module to implement a grid shifting algorithm tooptimize the use of the device in a retrofit LED fixture.

In one use case, a peak shedding/grid shifting module may be designedthat allows grid shifting to occur regularly when battery capacity isavailable to support grid shifting to achieve cost savings however atcertain times when a peak in power usage is expected, for example in thesummer months, the module may provide a peak shedding function. In someuses, the module may be integrated into a lighting device to providethis functionality. In other uses, the module may be integrated into anyelectrical device that may benefit from the peak shedding/grid shiftingoperation of the module. The module may have intelligence integratedinto it to allow the device to hold reserve capacity to guarantee thatcapacity will be available for the required function. By way of anexample, the module may allow grid shifting only down to fifty percentcapacity of the integrated power source so that if peak shedding isrequired, the module may be able to provide that function for a minimumperiod of time. The module may have similar functionality to theautomatic grid shifting wireless light bulb and peak shedding modulementioned herein. It is to be appreciated that grid shifting may beoptimized for cost savings and energy efficiency and peak shedding maybe optimized for reducing power consumption during peak times.

In embodiments targeting peak shedding, a peak monitoring device may bedeveloped to communicate with devices capable of peak shedding to allowa central detection of a peak in power usage and subsequently controlthe peak shedding devices to transition power usage to integrated powersources to reduce power consumption during the peak times. When the peakin power usage is over, the peak monitoring device may communicate withthe peak shedding devices to transition power back to the external powersource. In some embodiments, the peak monitoring device may beelectrically and physically connected to the monitored electricalinterface. In embodiments, the peak monitoring device may be a currentloop to detect the flow of energy on power lines without the need for adirect electrical or physical connection. The method of communicationmay be wired or wireless and a network of peak shedding devices mayallow communication to the devices in a store and forward architecture.Communication between the peak monitoring device and peak sheddingdevices may be bidirectional such that the peak monitoring device mayreceive acknowledgements, status, alarms and the like from the peakshedding devices. By way of an example, a peak monitoring device may beattached to the circuit breaker box in a building such that it maymonitor power usage at the circuit breaker box. In such a case, the peakmonitoring device may be programmed with peak levels such that when itdetects a peak level of power usage, the peak monitoring device maycommunicate control to the peak shedding devices to transition someamount of power to the integrated power source. The communication mayinclude the amount of power to transition to the integrated power sourcesuch that the peak monitoring device may control the reduction in load.In another example, the peak shedding devices are lighting devices withintegrated power sources. The peak monitoring device may detect a peakin power usage and send a command to the peak shedding lighting devicesto move a certain amount of power from the external power input to theintegrated power source. One advantage is that the light intensity ofthe lighting devices does not change but the power consumed from theexternal power input (and from the source of the power where the peakmonitoring device is monitoring) will be reduced during the peak time.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for a power outagelighting management within an environment, comprising a lighting deviceadapted to detect a power outage condition and power the lighting deviceby an internal power source. In embodiments, the lighting device mayinclude a light source that is powered selectively by either theinternal power source or an external power source. In response todetecting, the lighting device including the LED light source that ispowered by the internal power source may regulate a light intensity ofthe LED light source in accordance with the power outage indicationdata, such as the light intensity as a dimmed light condition, the lightintensity as a full brightness light condition, and the like.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for a system of powermanagement and control of an electrical facility, comprising theelectrical facility that includes an electrical device, an internalpower source, a connection to an external power source through anexternal power control device, a power source management facility, and aswitch sense facility that senses the power control state of theexternal power control device, wherein the power source managementfacility controls the source of power being delivered to the electricaldevice based on the switch sense facility detecting at least one of thepower control state of the external power control device and thepresence of power being received from the external power control device.In embodiments, the electrical facility is a lighting facility and theelectrical device is a lighting source, and where the lighting sourcemay be an LED lighting source. The internal power source, the powersource management facility, and the switch sense facility may beexternal to the lighting facility, and the like. The internal powersource, the power source management facility, and the switch sensefacility may be external to the electrical device. The power controlstate may be determined through a sensing of current in an electricalsignal sent by the switch sense facility onto the input powerconnection. Sensing of current may utilize taking multiple samples,averaging, statistical determination, and the like, to determinemeasured current sense. The power control state may be determinedthrough a sensing of reflections from an incident electrical pulse sentby the switch sense facility onto the input power connection. There maybe an electrical coupling between the input power connection and theswitch sense facility. The power source management facility may placethe internal power source in a charge mode when there is power beingreceived by the external power control device. The power sourcemanagement facility may power the lighting source from the internalpower source when the switch sense facility senses that the powercontrol state of the external power control device is on and that thereis no power being received by the lighting facility. The external powercontrol device may be a device that is used to apply power to anelectrical circuit. The external power control device may be a devicethat is used to apply power to a lighting circuit. The power controlstate may be an open switch or a closed switch. The power control statemay be a partially on state from a dimmer device. The power controlstate may be determined from a threshold value, where the thresholdvalue is predetermined, learned by the switch sense facility, and thelike. The learning may be based on an electrical signal provided on theinput power connection. The external power source may be AC power, DCpower, and the like. The switch sense facility may sense the presence ofpower being received prior to the external power control device througha power sensing circuit in the external power control device. The powersensing circuit may insert impedance on the circuit that the switchsense facility may detect. The power source management facility maychange the source of the power being used by the lighting facility basedon the state of the power sensing circuit detected by the switch sensefacility. The lighting facility may provide protection circuitry toprotect against at least one of electrical transients and surges, wherethe protection may be to protect the switch sense facility.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for an uninterruptablelighting source, including an uninterruptable lighting fixturecontaining an LED lighting source and a control facility formanipulating light output of the LED lighting source and selecting whichsource of power to use, wherein the uninterruptable lighting fixtureprovides the LED lighting source in response to a disruption of anexternal power source, and a rechargeable energy storage device capableof supplying power to the uninterruptable lighting fixture independentof the external power source, where recharging is provided to theuninterruptable lighting fixture at a time when the external powersource is available. In embodiments, the external power source may be atleast one of an AC and DC external power source. The uninterruptablelighting source may be designed to be a retrofit uninterruptablelighting fixture that replaces an existing lighting fixture. Therechargeable energy storage device and control facility may beintegrated with the LED lighting source. The rechargeable energy storagedevice and control facility may be housed externally to the LED lightingsource. The rechargeable energy storage device may be at least one of abattery, fuel cell, and super capacitor. The rechargeable energy storagedevice may be charged from the external power source. The rechargeableenergy storage device may be charged from a constant current drive tothe LED light source. The uninterruptable lighting facility may provideillumination based upon a setting of a switch. The switch setting may besensed by the control facility through at least one of electricalimpedance and AC power at the switch. The control facility may receiveinput through an input component in selecting which source of power touse. The input component may be a switch sense input component thatsenses at least one of a switch position and the presence of switchpower for an external switching facility providing the external powersource. The switch position of the external switching facility may bethrough electrical impedance sensing of the switch. The input componentmay be an RF input receiving component that receives commands from anexternal power outage detector. The input component may include awireless interface from a power sensing facility that may detect adisruption of power. The wireless interface may be a connection to anetwork. The indication of power outage may be detected over the wiredinterface. At least one of an internal timer and a time of day clock maycontrol the manipulating. The uninterruptable lighting fixture mayinclude a sensor input device for detecting an environmental condition.The sensor may be a light sensor sensing a level of ambient light. Thesensor may be a motion sensor sensing motion. The control facility maycontrol when the rechargeable energy storage device is charging. Themanipulating may be switching on the light output, changing anillumination level of the light output, flashing the light output,changing color content of the light output, and the like. The energystorage device may be capable of supplying the source of power for thelighting fixture to provide power management. Power management may bedue to external power being interrupted, to improve energy efficiency,to provide cost savings, to reduce energy demand, and the like. Theenergy demand may be a peak energy demand, at predetermined times, at atime when new energy demand may be required at an energy provider, andthe like. The control facility may utilize a control input from an inputdevice, internal timer, internal clock, internal program to manage thepower usage, and the like. The management of power usage may be throughselection of the power source. The management of power usage may bethrough control of when a power source is charging. The management ofpower usage may be through the amount of load shared by the powersources.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for power managementof a lighting source, including providing a lighting facility, where thelighting facility may include the lighting source, an input device, aninternal control facility, an energy storage device, a connection toexternal power, and the like. Sharing power usage between the externalpower and the energy storage device may be controlled by the internalcontrol facility, where the internal control facility includes anintelligence capability that may utilize a resident program andinformation received through the input device in the sharing of powerusage. In embodiments, the resident program may be stored on memoryrunning on a processor in the internal control facility. Informationreceived through the input device for power sharing may be processed inthe internal control facility through dedicated circuitry. The lightingsource may be an LED light. The external power may be external AC power.The external power may be external DC power. Sharing of power may be apartial sharing of power between the external power and the energystorage device, where both the external power and the energy storagedevice as a result of the information received are now supplying power.The input device may receive a program control input to alter theprogram, input from a remote control, input from a wireless network,input from a sensor, and the like. The input device may receive anexternal control signal, where a utility company, a networked softwareapplication, and the like may generate the external control signal. Theexternal control signal may be communicated from at least one ofwirelessly from a network, through the power lines, through a wirednetwork connection, and the like. The energy storage device may becapable of supplying the source of power for the lighting facility toprovide power management, where power management may be due to externalpower being interrupted, to improve energy efficiency, to provide costsavings, to reduce energy demand, and the like. The energy demand may bea peak energy demand, at predetermined times, at a time when new energydemand is required at an energy provider. The internal control facilitymay utilize a control input from an input device, internal timer,internal clock, internal program, and the like to manage the powerusage. The management of power usage may be through selection of thepower source, through control of when a power source is charging,through the amount of load shared by the power sources, and the like.

In systems containing devices with an embedded power source on anelectrical circuit such as grid shifting systems or battery backupsystems, an intelligent charging device may be designed to apply powerto the electrical circuit for the purpose of charging the embedded powersources. In such a case, the grid shifting or battery backed up devicesmay be able to detect when the intelligent charging device is incharging mode and when the operation is based on the controlling devicespassing power through onto the electrical circuit for normal operation.In some embodiments, switch sense functionality in end devices may beused to determine whether the applied power is for normal operation orfor charging mode. By way of an example, a wall switch controlling anelectrical circuit may contain a relay in parallel with the controllingdevice such that intelligence in the wall switch may apply power to theelectrical circuit independent of the state of the controlling device(e.g., in parallel to the controlling device). In the example, theintelligence in the wall switch may use a timer or time of day clock toallow power to be applied to one or more electrical devices for thepurposes of charging the battery based on time of day or some othertiming mechanism when the user does not intend to power the electricaldevices from the external power source for normal operation. In someembodiments, the intelligent charging device may use one or more sensorsto determine whether to enter charge mode. By way of an example, amotion sensor may detect occupancy in a room. When no motion has beendetected for a period of time, the intelligent charging device may entercharge mode. If motion is detected, the intelligent charging device mayexit charge mode and the electrical devices may enter normal operation.In this example, if the electrical devices are lighting devices orlighting fixtures, there may be multiple levels of illumination suchthat when in charge mode, the illumination level is at a lower levelwhere some of the power delivered may be diverted to charge the embeddedpower source however when the lights enter normal operation (forexample, when motion is detected) the lights set the illumination levelto a higher level. In embodiments, the intelligent charging device mayclose a switch automatically at certain times when the electricaldevices may be charging. In some embodiments, the intelligent chargingdevice may monitor current to the circuit to determine if the electricaldevices are charging or the rate at which they are charging. In someembodiments, the intelligent charging device may use wired or wirelesscommunication to the electrical devices to communicate whether it is incharging mode or normal operation mode. By way of an example, theintelligent charging device may use a power line communication method tocommunicate the mode of operation to end devices on an electricalcircuit. In some embodiment, the intelligent charging device may providea mechanism that may be detected by a switch sense circuit such that theswitch sense circuit may know that the intelligent charging device is incharging mode and as such not enter its normal operating mode but ratherenter a charging mode. By way of an example, the intelligent chargingdevice may insert some impedance based on the charge mode approach thatthe switch sense circuit may detect as a third state that indicatescharging mode. In embodiments, the intelligent charging device mayperiodically switch to charging mode when it detects that the wallswitch is turned to the off position. The intelligent charging devicemay learn over time typical times when the intelligent charging devicemay be in the off position and create a schedule of charging times. Inembodiments, the functionality may be implemented by a controllingdevice and integrated circuitry or a module into the controlling deviceto implement the same functionality as the intelligent charging device.In such embodiments, an existing controlling device may be retrofit withthe integrated circuitry or module to allow it to provide the same orsimilar functionality as the intelligent charging device. In oneillustrative example, a grid shifting lighting system may be developedcontrolled by an intelligent charging device such that batteriesembedded in the lights may be charged during times when the userintended the lights to be turned off. In this example, the intelligentcharging device may charge the embedded batteries by applying power tothe circuit but the lights may be placed in charging mode by wiredcommunication, wireless communication or a switch sensing mechanism andremain off during charging mode.

In embodiments of grid shifting systems, an intelligent grid shiftingcontroller may control charging of embedded power sources and controlthe use of external and embedded power sources. In embodiments, theintelligent grid shifting controller may contain all of thefunctionality of the intelligent charging device but may communicate tothe end devices the use of the external and embedded power sources. Theintelligent grid shifting controller may communicate to the gridshifting end devices when to use the external power source, when to usethe embedded power source and when to use both power sources sharing theload. The method of communication may be by wired connection over apower distribution network, for example on the AC power lines (X10,INSTEON, Broadband over Power Lines, proprietary communication schemeetc), or wirelessly through a wireless interface (dedicated RFcommunication link, ZIGBEE, WIFI, ENOCEAN, BLUETOOTH etc).

In embodiments of battery backed ballasts for fluorescent lighting orbattery backed LED driver modules, a ballast or driver module maycontain a light source or be able to drive a separate light source inthe event that a disruption in power is detected. In these embodiments,the light source may be embedded on the housing of the ballast or drivermodule or the light source may be in a separate housing that may mountin a location to illuminate an area during a disruption of power. Insome embodiments, during a disruption of power the ballast or drivermodule may drive both the separate light source and the primary lightsource deriving power from the embedded battery. In some embodiments,during a disruption of power the ballast or driver module may drive onlythe separate light source deriving power from the embedded battery. Byway of an example, a battery backed ballast for fluorescent lighting maymount above a drop ceiling and a separate light source may be mounted ina location nearby to illuminate an area during a disruption in power.The battery backed ballast may have a connection to the separate lightsource to power it from the embedded battery during a power disruption.In such a use case, a battery backed ballast may power both fluorescentlighting and a separate emergency light during an emergency. In analternate use case, a battery backed ballast may power only the separateemergency light. In this use case, a separate emergency light may havelower power requirements and thus may require a smaller battery reducingthe size and cost. In another use case a light source built into thehousing for the ballast or driver module may allow the ballast or drivermodule to act as the emergency light source. By way of an example, thehousing may have an LED light source and a method to mount the housingto a drop ceiling such that the housing and LED light source may bepositioned to illuminate an area during a disruption of power.

In embodiments of grid shifting systems, the amount of power to shift toan internal power source may be communicated to an end device using atriac or similar device to create a chopped waveform such that theamount of power that comes from the external power source and the amountof power supplied by an internal power source may be provided inproportion to the chopped waveform. In such embodiments, a controllingdevice may contain a triac or similar device and may be configured tocontrol the waveform such that an end device powered on the circuit mayprocess the waveform and control the amount of power delivered to an enddevice based on the input power waveform. By way of an example, a triacbased dimmer switch that is used to typically control the lightintensity level of a light source may be used to control the amount ofpower shifted to the internal power source. In such an example, avariable resistor may be used to control how much power is drawn fromthe line. In some embodiments, the device may use the chopped waveformto manage the amount of power supplied by the external and internalpower sources based on the external power waveform. In embodiments, thecontroller device may use any known method to manipulate or modulate thewaveform to communicate the amount of power to shift to the internalpower supply. In some embodiments, an intelligent triac based gridshifting controller with the capability of chopping the waveform may beused to control the amount of power shifted to the internal powersource. The intelligent triac based grid shifting controller may receivecommunication from an external device to configure or program thecontroller. The method of communication may be by wired connection overa power distribution network, for example on the AC power lines (X10,INSTEON, Broadband over Power Lines, proprietary communication schemeetc), or wirelessly through a wireless interface (dedicated RFcommunication link, ZIGBEE, WIFI, ENOCEAN, BLUETOOTH etc). In someembodiments, the intelligent triac based grid shifting controller mayallow direct input through a keypad, LCD screen, computer connectedthrough a USB interface etc and may be programmed to implement thecommunication to the end device to perform grid shifting. Inembodiments, the functionality may be pre-programmed, factory set,designed in a custom electrical circuit or the like to respond to sensorinputs and a pre-programmed algorithm to implement the grid shiftingfunction. The sensors may include a light sensor, motion sensor, anatomic clock or time receiver, temperature sensor or any other sensormentioned herein that may allow the grid shifting function to meet therequirements of an application. In some embodiments, the grid shiftingfunction is performed based on an intelligent program internally. Theintelligent program may contain a real time clock that may be set by theuser such that the intelligent program may use time of day or a calendarto perform the grid shifting functionality. The grid shifting functionmay be used for cost savings, energy efficiency, convenience,safety/security and the like. The controller may have switches, dials,knobs etc to set time of day or sensor thresholds such that a user maybe able to control how the intelligent program manages the gridshifting. Once set, the controller may act based on those settingsand/or the pre-programmed or designed function. The settings may bechanged on occasion by the user. In embodiments where the external powersource is a DC power source, a controlling device may use pulse widthmodulation, amplitude modulation and the like to communicate to a DCpowered end device the amount of power to shift to an embedded powersource. In an example of a triac controlled grid shifting system, theend device may be a lighting device with an internal power source andthe controller may be a wall switch with a triac as well as someintelligence built in. The controller may be programmed to shift someamount of power to the internal power source during daytime hours forcost savings. In another lighting example, the controller may receive acommand from an external device to implement a demand response functionwhere the controller may chop the waveform and shift an amount of powerdelivered to the end device to the internal power source such that theamount of power drawn from the external power source may be reducedhowever the light intensity may be maintained because the difference inpower consumed from the external power source may be transferred to theinternal power source. In embodiments of a lighting devices capable ofreducing the power consumption but maintaining a light intensity level,the device may be capable of detecting the chopped waveform created by atriac or similar device and adjust the amount of power consumed fromeach power source accordingly.

In an embodiment of a grid shifting lighting system, a system consistingof one or more lighting devices such as bulbs or fixtures and a gridshifting management device with an integrated power source that maypower the one or more lighting devices. The grid shifting managementdevice may have an external power supply such as an AC power source, aDC power source, a method of energy harvesting and the like forproviding a source of power to the lighting devices or to recharge theintegrated power source. The grid shifting management device may containa processor for power management and shifting power between an externalpower supply and integrated power source for the purposes of energyefficiency, demand response applications, peak shedding, load control,load leveling, backup power, local power generation and storage or anyother use of a hybrid power system mentioned herein. In someembodiments, the integrate power source may not be in the grid shiftingmanagement device but may be distributed into the lighting devices wherethe grid shifting management device may perform power management andconversion functions with the external power supply and may communicatewith the lighting devices to manage the grid shifting operation. In someembodiments, a processor in the grid shifting management device maymanage grid shifting in the lighting devices. In embodiments, thelighting devices may contain a processor and when configured orprogrammed may implement grid shifting functions. In such embodiments,the grid shifting management device may provide the configuration orprogramming. The lighting devices may receive configuration orprogramming from another source such as an external control source suchas a lighting control network. The lighting devices may have the abilityto alter their configuration based on power consumption, sensor inputsor the like such that a change in the grid shifting function may beinitiated by the lighting device in response to an input. By way of anexample, a group of lighting devices may be DC powered lighting devicessuch as LED light fixtures. A grid shifting wall switch or controllermay contain an AC/DC converter with the LED driver circuit capable ofdriving the light sources with the proper current and voltage asrequired by the light sources and fixtures. In embodiments, the gridshifting wall switch or controller may contain an AC/DC converter andsupply a DC voltage to the light sources and fixtures which may containthe LED driver circuits for the light sources. It is to be appreciatedthat any type of light source and associated driver circuit may be usedwith the present invention. The grid shifting wall switch or controllermay have an integrated or may have an external connection to a energystorage device such as a rechargeable battery that may be used for gridshifting purposes. The grid shifting wall switch or controller may becapable of managing power to use the energy storage device and externalpower source to implement grid shifting for the purposes of energyefficiency, demand response applications, peak shedding, load control,load leveling, backup power, local power generation and storage or anyother use of a hybrid power system mentioned herein. In another example,the lighting devices contain an energy storage device and may rechargeor use the energy storage device for grid shifting purposes. In thisexample, the lighting devices may use a constant current of a certainlevel. The grid shifting wall switch or controller may initiate a shiftto the energy storage device by reducing the amount of current supplied.A lighting device may detect the change and automatically begin tosource the amount of current from its energy storage device to maintainthe drive to the light source at the required level. The grid shiftingwall switch or controller may change any characteristic of the powersupplied to the lighting devices or may use any other method ofcommunication mentioned herein to alter the management of power at thelighting devices to implement grid shifting. In embodiments, the enddevice may not be a lighting device but may be any type of electricaldevice that may benefit from the grid shifting function describedherein.

An embodiment of grid shifting lighting devices or lighting devices withan emergency lighting capability may be a street light, street lamp orstreet light fixture with an internal power source such as arechargeable battery that is capable of using the internal power sourcefor grid shifting or emergency lighting purposes. The light source maybe fluorescent, LED, HID, incandescent or any known lights source. Insome embodiments, a replacement bulb that fits into a street lightfixture may allow the fixture to be retrofit with grid shifting oremergency lighting functions. In some embodiments, the street light,street lamp or street light fixture that can grid shift may contain agrid tie inverter to return power to local devices or to the grid. Insome embodiments, the street light, street lamp or street light fixturemay have a connection to one or more external power sources, may have aconnection to one or more energy harvesting power source such as solar,wind and the like and may have a connection to an external energystorage device in addition to or instead of an internal energy storagedevice. In some embodiments, the street light, street lamp or streetlight fixture may be controlled by RF or IR control, sensor control orany form of wireless control mentioned herein. By way of an example, alight sensor may be used for daylight harvesting for the purposes ofchanging the light intensity to conserve power based on the amount ofambient light detected. In another example, a motion sensor may be usedto turn the light or change the light level if multiple light levels areimplemented. In some embodiments, a coordinated lighting function may beimplemented where any form of wireless control in one street light,street lamp or street light fixture may be propagated over a wired orwireless network to a group of street lights, street lamps or streetlight fixtures such that the group may be controlled in a coordinatedmanner. By way of an example, a motion sensor triggered in one streetlamp may transmit a message to a group of street lamps to turn on evenif the other members of the group do not directly detect the motion.

Referring to FIG. 3, the present invention may provide a grid shiftingelectrical fixture 302 which may contain a processor 308 and a energystorage device 304 such as a battery and a connection to external powerthat is delivered through a grid shifting controller 310, where theprocessor 312 provides intelligent control of the grid shiftingelectrical fixture 302 for the purposes of energy efficiency, demandresponse applications, peak shedding, load control, load leveling,backup power, local power generation and storage or any other use of ahybrid power system mentioned herein. In embodiments, processor 308 andprocessor 312 may include a microprocessor, a microcomputer, a digitallogic circuit, an analog circuit, and the like. In the case where theprocessor contains a computing device, software for the computing devicemay fixed at the factory, updated though an external interface to theprocessor (e.g. though a wired or wireless connection), and the like.Processor 308 and/or processor 312 may make decisions on when and how torecharge the energy storage device, when the grid shifting electricalfixture 302 should shift or share power, why to shift or share power andhow much power should be shifted or shared between the power sources.There may be a wired or wireless communication channel between processor308 and processor 312 for control, status, programming, configurationand the like. In some embodiments, the grid shifting electrical fixture302 may be a lighting fixture and as such the power source and lightsource may be managed by processor 308 and processor 312 to implement agrid shifting lighting fixture 302 containing the energy storage device304. In some embodiments, the energy storage device and a controller orprocessor may be external to the grid shifting electrical fixture 302.In embodiments of a lighting system capable of reducing the powerconsumption but maintaining a light intensity level, the grid shiftingcontroller may translate commands received from a utility company,lighting control system or demand response server to provide control toone or more grid shifting electrical fixtures 302 such that the lightingsystem reducing power consumption but maintaining the light intensitylevel consists of the fixture and the intermediate control device.

Referring to FIG. 4, the present invention may provide a grid shiftingelectrical fixture 402 which may contain a processor 408 and aconnection to external power that is delivered through a grid shiftingcontroller 410, where there may be an energy storage device 404 such asa battery and a processor 412 that provides intelligent control of thegrid shifting electrical fixture 402 for the purposes of energyefficiency, demand response applications, peak shedding, load control,load leveling, backup power, local power generation and storage or anyother use of a hybrid power system mentioned herein. In embodiments,processor 408 and processor 412 may include a microprocessor, amicrocomputer, a digital logic circuit, an analog circuit, and the like.In the case where the processor contains a computing device, softwarefor the computing device may fixed at the factory, updated though anexternal interface to the processor (e.g. though a wired or wirelessconnection), and the like. Processor 408 and/or processor 412 may makedecisions on when and how to recharge the energy storage device 404,when the grid shifting electrical fixture 402 should shift or sharepower, why to shift or share power and how much power should be shiftedor shared between the power sources. There may be a wired or wirelesscommunication channel between processor 408 and processor 412 forcontrol, status, programming, configuration and the like. In someembodiments, the grid shifting electrical fixture 402 may be a lightingfixture and as such the power source and light source may be managed byprocessor 408 and processor 412 to implement a grid shifting lightingsystem with the grid shifting controller containing the energy storagedevice 404. In some embodiments, the energy storage device and acontroller or processor may be external to the grid shifting controller410. In some embodiments, the grid shifting electrical fixture 402 maynot contain a processor and the grid shifting function may beimplemented by the gird shifting controller 410 for one or moreelectrical fixture devices on the circuit managed by the controller.

Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention may provide for grid shiftingfor one or more lighting devices 502 and an external grid shiftingcontroller 504, where the lighting device 502 may include a processor508 with a lighting modes database 510, a grid shift controller 512, apower connection to external power 514, a light source 516, an internalpower source such as a battery 518, grid shifting communication 522 andthe like and where the external grid shifting controller 504 may includea power feed to the lighting fixture 524, grid shifting communication526, a processor/controller 528, a connection to an external powersupply 530, and the like. In embodiments, the lighting device 502 mayuse the battery for the purposes of energy efficiency, demand responseapplications, peak shedding, load control, load leveling, backup power,local power generation and storage or any other use of a hybrid powersystem mentioned herein and as a result, determine whether to power thelighting device 502 using the power connection to external power 514,use the battery 518 or use some amount of power consumed from bothsources. In embodiments, the processor 508 may include a microprocessor,a microcomputer, a digital logic circuit, an analog circuit, and thelike. In the case where the processor contains a computing device,software for the computing device may fixed at the factory, updatedthough an external interface to the processor (e.g. though a wired orwireless connection), and the like. The processor 508 may have access toa lighting mode database 510 that may contain information pertaining tocontrolling the light source, power management to implement the gridshifting function, use of embedded sensors, wired or wireless interfacesand the like. In embodiments, the grid shift controller 512 mayimplement the sharing or shifting of power of the two power sources thatmay be combined using a method described herein (diode oring, PWM usingFETs to or power sources, controlling solid state switches or relaysetc). The power connection to external power 514 may be AC power, DCpower or the like. The light source 516 may be fluorescent, LED, HID,incandescent or any known lights source. The light source 516 may beintegrated into the same housing as the remaining components of thelighting device or may be removable and replaceable like a light bulb.Grid shift communication 522 may allow the external grid shiftingcontroller 504 to communicate with the lighting device 508 tocommunicate grid shifting operation to the lighting devices, program orconfigure the processor 508 or grid shift controller 512, managerecharging the battery 518, gather status and the like. The externalgrid shifting controller 504 may allow for the control of the gridshifting system by allowing parameters of grid shifting to be enteredsuch that the processor/controller 528 may make decisions on when andhow to recharge the battery 518, when the lighting device 502 shouldshift or share power, why to shift or share power and how much powershould be shifted or shared between the power sources. The decision maybe based on programming, configuration, external control, sensor inputs,monitoring of power consumption and the like. By way of an example, theexternal grid shifting controller 504 may be a control panel that allowsuser input to program grid shifting operation. The processor/controller528 may contain a real time clock that may allow the user to enter timesof the day when the external grid shift controller may enter charge modeby communicating to the lighting devices 502 that they are entering amode where the battery 518 is charged but the light source 516 is notilluminated. The user may program times of day and the percentage ofpower that will be supplied from the battery 518 source at those timesof day such that the grid shift controller 512 may manage the two powersources to implement the sharing. The external grid shifting controller504 may implement any of the grid shifting functions described herein.

In an embodiment, an autonomous grid shifting lighting device may beprogrammed or configured to implement grid shifting using its internalbattery. Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention may provide for gridshifting of a lighting device 502 using the processor 508, lightingmodes database 510 and grid shift controller 512 to manage the powerconnection to external power 514, light source 516 and battery 518 suchthat the lighting device may manage grid shifting operation based on itsprogram. In such an embodiment, there is no external grid shiftingcontroller and the operation of the lighting device is controlled by thecomponents of the lighting device 502 as programmed or configured tooperate.

Referring to FIG. 6, the present invention may provide for grid shiftingfor one or more lighting devices 602 and an external grid shiftingcontroller 604, where the lighting device 602 may include a processor608 with a lighting modes database 610, a controller 612, a powerconnection to external power 614, a light source 616, grid shiftingcommunication 622 and the like and where the external grid shiftingcontroller 604 may include a power feed to the lighting fixture 624,grid shifting communication 626, a processor/controller 628, aconnection to an external power supply 630, an internal power sourcesuch as a battery 632 and the like. In embodiments, the external gridshifting controller 604 may use the battery for the purposes of energyefficiency, demand response applications, peak shedding, load control,load leveling, backup power, local power generation and storage or anyother use of a hybrid power system mentioned herein and as a result,determine whether to power one or more lighting devices 602 using theconnection to an external power supply 630, using the battery 632 orusing some amount of power consumed from both sources. In embodiments,the processor 608 may include a microprocessor, a microcomputer, adigital logic circuit, an analog circuit, and the like. In the casewhere the processor contains a computing device, software for thecomputing device may fixed at the factory, updated though an externalinterface to the processor (e.g. though a wired or wireless connection),and the like. The processor 608 may have access to a lighting modedatabase 610 that may contain information pertaining to controlling thelight source, power management, use of embedded sensors, wired orwireless interfaces and the like. In embodiments, the controller 612 mayimplement power management of the light source 618 and power connectionto external power 614. The power connection to external power 614 may beAC power, DC power or the like. The external grid shifting controller604 may contain an AC/DC converter, DC/DC converter and the like toconvert and condition the power for the lighting devices. The lightsource 616 may be fluorescent, LED, HID, incandescent or any knownlights source. The light source 616 may be integrated into the samehousing as the remaining components of the lighting device or may beremovable and replaceable like a light bulb. Grid shift communication622 may allow the external grid shifting controller 604 to communicatewith the lighting device 608 to communicate grid shifting operation tothe lighting devices, program or configure the processor 608 orcontroller 612, gather status and the like. The external grid shiftingcontroller 604 may allow for the power management and control of thegrid shifting system by allowing parameters of grid shifting to beentered such that the processor/controller 528 may make decisions onwhen and how to recharge the battery 632, when to shift or share power,why to shift or share power and how much power should be shifted orshared between the power sources. The decision may be based onprogramming, configuration, external control, sensor inputs, monitoringof power consumption and the like. By way of an example, the externalgrid shifting controller 604 may be a control panel that allows userinput to program grid shifting operation. The processor/controller 628may contain a real time clock that may allow the user to program timesof day and the percentage of power that will be supplied from thebattery 632 source at those times of day such that theprocessor/controller 628 may manage the two power sources to implementthe sharing. The external grid shifting controller 604 may implement anyof the grid shifting functions described herein.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the lighting device 702 may include anillumination source 704, housing 714, controller 708, timing facility718, power sourcing facility 710, a first power source 712, a secondpower source 720, and the like. In embodiments, the first power source712, second power source 720, or both, may be located as part of thehousing 714 or outside the housing. Either or both of the power sources712 or 720 may be any power source described herein, such as a battery,super capacitor, fuel cell, and the like. Either or both of the powersources 712 may be an external power source, such as the power grid, anexternal DC power source, and the like. For example, the first powersource 712 may be a battery internal to the housing 714 and the secondpower source 720 may be the external power grid. In another example, thefirst power source 712 may be the external power grid and the secondpower source may be an external DC power source. Referring to FIG. 7B,In embodiments the lighting device 702 may include an illuminationsource mechanically associated with a housing 722; a timing facilitywhich may be associated with the housing and in data communication witha controller 724; and where the controller may be mechanicallyassociated with the housing and adapted to cause a power sourcingfacility to select from two alternative power sources when powering theillumination source based on an input from the timing facility 728. Inembodiments, the timing facility may utilize a calendar to determinetimes to select from the two alternative power sources. The timingfacility may utilize a timing profile to determine times to select fromthe two alternative power sources. The timing facility may store timeswhen selection is disabled. The timing facility may be a clock that issynchronized with a central clock. The timing facility may be a timerthat counts to a predetermined period. The timing facility may utilizetime of day. The controller may include a processor. The illuminationsource may be an LED. The lighting device may be an LED driver moduleand drive an LED illumination source. The lighting device may be afluorescent lamp ballast and drive a fluorescent light source. Thelighting device may be an inverter module driving a fluorescent lampballast and fluorescent light source. The lighting device may be alighting fixture. The lighting fixture may include a housing thatreceives the illumination source. The lighting device may be an adapterthat accepts the illumination source plugged into it. The step ofselecting may involve switching between the two alternative powersources. The step of selecting may involve sharing power between the twoalternative power sources simultaneously, such as where x percent ofpower is consumed from one of the alternative power sources and ypercent of power is consumed from the other alternative power source.

Referring to FIG. 8A, the lighting device 802 may include anillumination source 804, a housing 814, a controller 808, a sensorfacility 818, a power sourcing facility 810, a first power source 812, asecond power source 820, and the like. In embodiments, the first powersource 812, second power source 820, or both, may be located as part ofthe housing 814 or outside the housing. Either or both of the powersources 812 or 820 may be any power source described herein, such as abattery, super capacitor, fuel cell, and the like. Either or both of thepower sources 812 may be an external power source, such as the powergrid, an external DC power source, and the like. For example, the firstpower source 812 may be a battery internal to the housing 814 and thesecond power source 820 may be the external power grid. In anotherexample, the first power source 812 may be the external power grid andthe second power source may be an external DC power source. Referring toFIG. 8B, the lighting device 802 may provide an illumination sourcemechanically associated with a housing 822; a sensor facilitymechanically associated with the housing and in data communication witha controller, the sensor facility adapted to assess a time of daythrough examination of lighting conditions proximate the housing 824;where the controller may be associated with the housing and adapted tocause a power sourcing facility to select from two alternative powersources when powering the illumination source based on an input from thesensing facility. In embodiments, the sensor facility may furthercomprise a motion detector that is in communication with the controller,the controller adapted to use data from the motion detector whendetermining which of the two alternative power sources to select. Themotion detector may sense motion proximate to the housing. The sensorfacility may further comprise a light sensor that is in communicationwith the controller, the controller adapted to use data from the lightsensor when determining which of the two alternative power sources toselect and how much power to draw from each source. The controller mayinclude a processor. The illumination source may be an LED, where thelighting device may include an LED driver module. The lighting devicemay be a fluorescent lamp ballast and drive a fluorescent light source.The lighting device may be an inverter module driving a fluorescent lampballast and fluorescent light source. The lighting device may be alighting fixture. The lighting fixture may include a housing thatreceives the illumination source. The lighting device may be an adapterthat accepts the illumination source plugged into it. The step ofselecting may involve switching between the two alternative powersources. The step of selecting may involve sharing power between the twoalternative power sources simultaneously, such as where x percent ofpower is consumed from one of the alternative power sources and ypercent of power is consumed from the other alternative power source.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the lighting device 902 may include a first powersource 904, a second power source 908, an information source, such as toprovide time of day information 914, and the like. In embodiments, thefirst power source 904, second power source 908, or both, may be locatedas part of the housing of the lighting device 902 or outside thehousing. Either or both of the power sources 904 or 908 may be any powersource described herein, such as a battery, super capacitor, fuel cell,and the like. Either or both of the power sources 904 or 908 may be anexternal power source, such as the power grid, an external DC powersource, and the like. For example, the first power source 904 may be abattery internal to the housing and the second power source 908 may bethe external power grid. In another example, the first power source 904may be the external power grid and the second power source may be anexternal DC power source. In embodiments, the information source 912 maybe located as a part of the lighting device 902, external to thelighting device, or some combination of internal and external. Forexample, the information source may provide the time of day to thelighting device 902 from a real time clock module inside the lightingdevice. In another example, the time of day clock may be maintained inthe lighting device and synchronized or set to an external time source(e.g. NTP, an atomic clock, a user interface, and the like). In anotherexample, the lighting device may not maintain the time however anexternal device maintaining the time may control operation of thelighting device based on time of day. Referring to FIG. 9B, the lightingdevice 902 may provide a method of shifting a lighting load off the grid918 by connecting a lighting device to the grid 920; causing thelighting device to extract information from an information sourceproximate the lighting device, wherein the information is indicative ofa time of day 922; causing the lighting device to select from twoalternate power sources based on the information 924; and the like. Inembodiments, a controller may perform the step of extractinginformation, where the controller may include a processor. The lightingdevice may include an LED lighting source. The LED lighting source mayinclude an LED driver module. The lighting device may be a fluorescentlamp ballast and drive a fluorescent light source. The lighting devicemay be an inverter module driving a fluorescent lamp ballast andfluorescent light source. The lighting device may be a lighting fixture,where the lighting fixture includes a housing that receives theillumination source. The lighting device may be an adapter that acceptsthe illumination source plugged into it. The step of selecting mayinvolve switching between the two alternative power sources. The step ofselecting may involve sharing power between the two alternative powersources simultaneously, such as where x percent of power is consumedfrom one of the alternative power sources and y percent of power isconsumed from the other alternative power source.

Referring to FIG. 10A, the lighting device 1002 may include an internalbattery power source 1004, which may include a performancecharacteristic 1008 such as for battery capacity level; a connection tothe power grid 1010; and the like. Referring to FIG. 10B, the lightingdevice 1002 may provide for shifting of a lighting load off the grid1012 by connecting a lighting device to the grid 1014; causing thelighting device to monitor an internal battery power source for aperformance characteristic 1018; causing the lighting device to selectbetween the grid and the internal battery power source based on theperformance characteristic 1020; and the like. In embodiments, thelighting device may include a controller for performing the steps ofmonitoring the internal battery and choosing between the grid and theinternal battery, such as where the controller includes a processor. Thelighting device may include an LED lighting source, and the LED lightingsource may include an LED driver module. The lighting device may includea fluorescent lamp ballast. The lighting device may be an invertermodule driving a fluorescent lamp ballast and fluorescent light source.The lighting device may be a lighting fixture. The lighting fixture mayinclude a housing that receives the illumination source. The lightingdevice may be an adapter that accepts the illumination source pluggedinto it. The step of selecting may involve switching between the twoalternative power sources. The step of selecting may involve sharingpower between the two alternative power sources simultaneously, such aswhere x percent of power is consumed from one of the alternative powersources and y percent of power is consumed from the other alternativepower source.

Referring to FIG. 11A, the lighting device 1102 may include a firstpower source 1104, a second power source 1108, predict an energydistribution grid demand parameter 1110, an environmental informationsource 1114, and the like. In embodiments, the first power source 1104,second power source 1108, or both, may be located as part of the housingof the lighting device 1102 or outside the housing. Either or both ofthe power sources 1104 1108 may be any power source described herein,such as a battery, super capacitor, fuel cell, and the like. Either orboth of the power sources 1104 1108 may be an external power source,such as the power grid, an external DC power source, and the like. Forexample, the first power source 1104 may be a battery internal to thehousing and the second power source 1108 may be the external power grid.In another example, the first power source 1104 may be the externalpower grid and the second power source may be an external DC powersource. In embodiments, the information source 1114 may be located as apart of the lighting device 1102, external to the lighting device, orsome combination of internal and external. The information source 1114may be an environmental information source, a power input informationsource, and the like. For instance, the information source may enablethe prediction or determination of an energy distribution gridparameter, such as to improve energy efficiency, provide cost savings,to reduce energy demand, and the like, such as when the energy demand isa peak energy demand, is at predetermined times, at a time when newenergy demand is required at an energy provider, and the like. Referringto FIG. 11B, the lighting device 1102 may provide for shifting a portionof a lighting load off an energy distribution grid 1118 by electricallyconnecting a lighting device to the energy distribution grid 1120;causing the lighting device to interpret information obtained from anenvironmental information source, which may be proximate the lightingdevice, the interpretation adapted to predict an energy distributiongrid demand parameter 1122; causing the lighting device to select fromat least two different power sources based on the interpretation 1124;and the like. In embodiments, the lighting device may include acontroller for performing the steps of interpreting the information andselecting between the at least two different power sources, where thecontroller may include a processor. The environmental information sourcemay include an internal timer, a time of day clock, a calendar, anenvironmental sensor input device for detecting an environmentalcondition, and the like. The lighting device may be caused to assess apower viability factor associated with at least one of the at least twodifferent power sources, and where the step of causing the lightingdevice to select from at least two different power sources may be basedon the interpretation comprises causing the lighting device to selectfrom the at least two different power sources based at least in part onthe environmental information interpretation and at least in part on thepower viability factor. The step of causing the lighting device toselect from at least two different power sources based on theinterpretation may involve switching between the two different powersources. The step of causing the lighting device to select from at leasttwo different power sources based on the interpretation may involvesimultaneously drawing power from the two different power sources, suchas where x percent of power is consumed from one of the alternativepower sources and y percent of power is consumed from the otheralternative power source. The environmental sensor input device may be alight sensor sensing a level of ambient light. The environmental sensorinput device may be a motion sensor sensing motion. A power sensor inputdevice may also be included, such as where the power sensor input devicemeasures the amount of power consumed from one or more of the powersources, the power sensor input device measures the capacity level of atleast one of the two different power source, the power sensor inputdevice allows for an estimation of the capacity level of at least one ofthe two different power sources, and the like. In some embodiments, thelighting device may not contain an environmental sensor input andinstead rely on measurements of the power sensor input device to selectfrom the at least two different power sources. The lighting device mayinclude an LED lighting source, where the LED lighting source mayinclude an LED driver module. The lighting device may further include afluorescent lamp ballast. The lighting device may be an inverter moduledriving a fluorescent lamp ballast and fluorescent light source. Thelighting device may be a lighting fixture, such as where lightingfixture includes a housing that receives the illumination source. Thelighting device may be an adapter that accepts the illumination sourceplugged into it. The step of selecting may involve switching between thetwo alternative power sources. The step of selecting may involve sharingpower between the two alternative power sources simultaneously, such aswhere x percent of power is consumed from one of the alternative powersources and y percent of power is consumed from the other alternativepower source.

In embodiments of emergency lighting devices and grid shifting lightingdevices, an architecture to provide battery backup as an AC input to ACoutput in-line battery backup module may be used such that the AC inputis converted to DC, then the converted DC input is or'ed (as used herein“OR'ed” and “or'ed” will be used interchangeably with “subjected to thelogic function ‘OR’”) with the output of battery that is fed into aconversion where the output is converted through an inverter to createan AC output to the end device. The DC paths, either from the AC inputor from the battery integrated into the in-line battery backup module,may be controlled with a switching circuit and to turn on, turn off orpulse width modulate to control whether power is delivered and/or theamount of power delivered to one or more devices powered by the ACoutput. In some embodiments, an amount of power delivered to the ACoutput may be monitored such that a control facility of the in-linebattery backup module may be able to manage the amount of powerdelivered from any input source to provide a desired amount of power atthe AC output and to draw the desired amount of power from the inputsources.

In embodiments, a power outage may be detected in a wall switch orsimilar controlling device and with no power on the line still controllighting devices or electrical devices using communication over thepower lines between the wall switch or similar controlling device andthe lighting or electrical devices that are being controlled. It is tobe appreciated that power in the wall switch or similar controllingdevice, lighting device or electrical device may be provided by thepower source integrated into those devices to facilitate power outagefunctionality. In embodiments, the wall switch or similar controllingdevice may control the lighting or electrical devices as they may withpower applied from the line. In embodiments, the wall switch or similarcontrolling devices may provide means of control during a power outagesuch as automated control of the lighting or electrical devices in apre-configured method. By way of example, upon detecting a power outage,the wall switch or similar controlling device may instruct the controlfacility in a lighting device or electrical device to remain on for someperiod of time at which point the wall switch or similar controllingdevice may instruct the lighting device or electrical device to turnoff, change light intensity or change mode or method of operation. Inembodiments of grid shifting lighting devices or grid shiftingelectrical devices, input power may be shut off from grid shiftinglighting devices or grid shifting electrical devices but power linecommunication may still allow a grid shifting controller device tocontinue to configure and control the grid shifting operation in theabsence of power.

In embodiments, the battery powered wireless lighting modules may becontrolled such that they are turned on when a disruption may bedetected where wired lighting devices are controlled. In embodiments,one or more battery powered wireless lighting modules may receive asignal transmitted from a point on the wired power distribution suchthat the detected state of power turns on, turns off or changes theoperation of battery powered wireless lighting modules. In someembodiments, the battery powered wireless lighting modules may containtransceivers allowing battery powered wireless lighting modules to forma network to transmit, receive and forward commands, control and status.In some embodiments, a wall switch controlling wired lighting maycontain a wireless transmitter and an integrated power source such as acoin cell battery, rechargeable battery or the like and may operate tocontrol the one or more battery powered wireless lighting modules if adisruption is detected in wired power. In an embodiment where wallswitch controls wired lighting, the switches may still control thebattery powered wireless lighting modules. By way of an example, a poweroutage may be detected by the intelligent wall switch. The intelligentwall switch may transmit a control message to one or more batterypowered wireless lighting modules to turn on during the outage. When theintelligent wall switch detects that power has returned, it may send amessage including a command to turn off one or more battery poweredwireless lighting modules. In addition, the intelligent wall switch maycontrol the battery powered wireless lighting modules through the outagesuch that if a user turns the switch to the on position, an on commandis transmitted and the modules turn on. When the user turns the switchto the off position, an off command is transmitter and the modules turnsoff. In embodiments, the intelligent wall switch may have additionalcontrols on it to control the battery powered wireless lighting modulesindependent of control of the wired lighting. By way of an example, aseparate on/off switch may be on the intelligent wall switch to controlthe modules. In another example, an intelligent wall switch may have aUSB connector that a user may plug a laptop into to control, configureor gather status of the battery powered wireless lighting modules. Byway of an example, the user may control and/or run a test of the batterypowered wireless lighting modules via a software application on a laptopor similar computer device that may be connected to an intelligent wallswitch to illuminate the lights, gather battery capacity status,configure auto-shutoff times or brightness levels etc.

In embodiments, a control facility may monitor the amount of power usedover time to determine when to stop or reduce the use of battery power(versus monitoring battery capacity). Knowing the capacity of thebattery when it was installed and knowing the history of use of thebattery may allow for a battery capacity estimation. An estimate ofcapacity loss over time using number of charge cycles at given chargerates, temperature, the characteristics of the power consumption oflighting devices powered by the battery may allow an emergency lightingdevice or grid shifting lighting device to indicate when the batterycapacity may be below a threshold such that the device may not meetspecification. In some embodiments, a control facility in the emergencylighting device or grid shifting lighting device may use the informationto change the mode of operation (brightness level at start, brightnessprofile over time, amount of use of battery, charge rates, etc.) toextend the usable battery life.

In embodiments, an LED light fixture with an LED light source and anintelligent driver module that contains an integrated rechargeablebattery and the ability to drive the LED light source from the batteryas well as the ability to drive the LED light source from a connectionto grid power. Intelligence in the form of a microcontroller,microprocessor, programmable logic or the like may control the amount ofpower consumed in each path (e.g., the path from the battery and thepath from the grid). The intelligence may implement control of theamount of power consumed in each path through pulse width modulationcontrol of two switching circuits to allow the two paths to be combinedand the amount of power supplied from each path to be controlled via thepulse width modulation. This may allow for control of the amount ofpower consumed from each path therefore any amount of the power suppliedto the light source may be shared between the two sources of power.Multiple methods of control implemented by the integrated intelligencemay be provided to make a decision on when to perform grid shifting andhow much power to shift. One method may be time of day and/or calendarbased. The intelligence may maintain an accurate time of day clock andbe capable of maintaining a schedule of when to activate or deactivategrid shifting and by what amount. At each entry in the schedule, theintelligence may change the control of the two paths. In addition, theintegrated intelligence may be capable of scheduling charge cycles forthe rechargeable battery such that the energy storage device may becharged at the optimal time depending on the application. Timescheduling may be used as a trigger to power the light fixture during apower outage. By way of an example, if full light intensity is requiredfrom the fixture during work hours, the light fixture can be programmedto automatically power the light source from the battery during workhours when it detects that the grid connection is no longer providingpower. Another method may be the reception of a load control signal froman external controller. This method correlates to an interrupt from anexternal control source to reduce demand on the grid or return to normaloperation. In the context of a grid shifting light fixture, the loadcontrol command may contain the amount of power consumption to beshifted and for how long. Time based and load control based methods oftriggering grid shifting may have practical application in peakshedding, demand response and other load control mechanisms that may bedesirable to a power provider. The grid shifting lighting device maycontain a communication interface. A software application may run on aseparate device such as a laptop, computer, handheld device, server orthe like that allows a user to enter the parameters for grid shiftingsuch that those parameters may then get communicated to the gridshifting lighting device. A user interface may create and format for thecommands that get transferred from the user interface through thecommunication interface to the intelligence on the lighting device. Insome embodiments, the grid shifting lighting device may have atransceiver such that one or more grid shifting lighting devices mayform a network to receive and/or forward commands or data throughout anetwork of grid shifting lighting devices. The communication interfacemay be any type of wired or wireless interface described herein.

Referring to FIG. 12, the present invention may provide for power outagemanagement through a lighting facility 1202A-H and a power outagedetection device 1214 connected to power distribution 1218, where thelighting facility 1202A-H may include an LED lighting source 1204, acontrol facility 1208, an internal power source 1210, a power outageinput device, and the like. In embodiments, the power outage detectiondevice 1214 may detect a power outage in the power distribution 1217,and as a result, transmit a power outage signal to the power outageinput device 1212 of the lighting facility 1202A-H. The control facility1202 may then manipulate the LED lighting source 1204, such as turningon, turning on in a dimmed state, flashing, flashing momentarily,changing the spectral output, and the like. In addition, in the casewhen the lighting facility 1202A-H also has a connection to AC power,such as through the power distribution 1218, the control facility 1208may switch power to the internal power source 1210. In embodiments, eachof the lighting facilities 1202A-H may be set to respond differently, orin groups. For instance, a group of lighting facilities 1202B-D may belocated in a hallway or stairway, and they may respond together in a waythat provides pathway lighting in those areas; a pair of ceiling lights1202F-G may respond together, or separately per their differentpositions in the room; an individual room light 1202E may be controlledseparately; a portable emergency light 1202H may be set to glow whenresponding to help an individual find it during the power outage; andthe like.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for a power outagelighting management within an environment, comprising a power outagedetection device adapted to detect a power outage condition and towirelessly transmit power outage indication data to a plurality oflighting systems within the environment, where at least one of theplurality of lighting systems include an LED light source that ispowered by an internal power source. In embodiments, at least one of theplurality of lighting systems may include a light source that is poweredby either the internal power source or an external power source. Inresponse to receiving the power outage power indication data, thelighting system including the LED light source that is powered by theinternal power source may regulate a light intensity of the LED lightsource in accordance with the power outage indication data, such as thelight intensity as a dimmed light condition, the light intensity as afull brightness light condition, and the like.

In embodiments, the present invention may provide for a power outagemanagement for a plurality of lighting sources, comprising at least oneof a plurality of lighting facilities containing an LED lighting source,a power outage input device, an internal power source, a controlfacility for manipulating the light output of the LED lighting source,and the like, wherein the lighting facility may provide light inresponse to a power outage signal received by the power outage inputdevice indicating a power outage condition; and a power outage detectiondevice that monitors power at some point in power distribution to detectthe power outage condition, where the power outage detection device maywirelessly transmit the power outage signal to the power outage inputdevice of the at least one of the plurality of lighting facilities whenthe power outage condition is detected. In embodiments, the outage inputdevice may contain a wireless receiver to receive the power outagesignal. The response may be provided with an environmental input from asensor input device in the lighting facility in addition to the signalreceived by the power outage input device. The lighting facility maytake the form of at least one of a light bulb that mounts into alighting fixture, a lighting fixture, a retrofit lighting fixture, alighting adapter, a battery powered lighting fixture, and the like. Thecentralized controller may be running a software control program. Thesignal may be received from a web-based source. The web-based source maybe on a local network, on the Internet, and the like. The internal powersource may be a rechargeable energy storage device integrated with thelighting facility that is capable of supplying power to the lightingfacility independent of the power distribution, and where the rechargingmay be provided internal to the lighting facility at a time when thepower distribution is available. The rechargeable energy storage deviceinternal to the lighting facility may be a battery, fuel cell, supercapacitor, and the like. The lighting facility may be disconnected andused as a portable lighting device. The sensor may sense infrared,temperature, light, motion, acoustic, smoke, electromagnetic, vibration,and the like. The manipulating may be switching on the light output,changing the illumination level of the light output, flashing the lightoutput, changing the color content of the light output, and the like.The power outage module may contain an integral power source. The poweroutage module may contain a light source, where the power outage modulemay be disconnected from a power source and used as a portable lightingdevice. The response may be provided with an environmental input from asensor input device in the centralized controller. The centralizedcontroller may contain pushbuttons, switches, dials, and the like tocontrol the lighting facilities remotely. The centralized controller maybe a power outage module monitoring an emergency lighting circuit todetect an indication that emergency lighting must be activated. In thisway, the power outage device may be connected to an emergency lightingcircuit (e.g., not part of power distribution) but it would allow awireless extension of the emergency lighting circuit. In embodiments,the present invention may provide a detached lighting system that couldbe supplemental to an installed emergency lighting system by propagatingthe control through a connected power outage device to the lights.

In embodiments of the Wireless Emergency Lighting System the powerfailure detection device may be hard wired or permanently connected to ajunction box, wall outlet, wall switch etc. In such an embodiment thepower failure detection device may contain all of the circuitrydescribed when plugged into a wall outlet however it may be hard wiredto a device with connectivity to detect a disruption of power of a powersource that may transmit to one or more battery powered wirelesslighting fixtures to turn on, turn off or change state based on a changeof state of the monitored power source. By way of an example, a poweroutage failure detection device may be integrated into a wall switch.The power outage failure detection device may detect a state of thepower source. The power outage failure detection device may include apower monitoring circuit, a wireless transmitter, an integrated powersource such as a rechargeable battery and a processor to monitor thestate of the power source, process the state and transmit a change ofstate to the one or more battery powered wireless lighting device. Inthis example, the power outage failure detection device may also detectthe position of the wall switch and transmit information about theintent of the user with respect to the position of the wall switch. Ifthe user intended to turn the lights off, the power outage failuredetection device may not transmit control to turn on the battery poweredwireless lighting devices or alternatively even if the user intended toturn the lights off, the power outage failure detection device maytransmit control to change the state of the battery powered wirelesslighting devices. In another embodiment, the power failure detectiondevices may be designed into a wall outlet. In an embodiment, the powerfailure detection device may be designed as a module that connects to ajunction box such that it may have an electrical connection to the powersource passing through the junction box and may detect a disruption inthe power source and transmit control to battery powered wirelesslighting devices. In some embodiments, the power failure detectiondevice may have a wired or wireless interface to allow it to receivecommands such that a user or installer may program the operation of thedevice. In embodiments, the device may receive a transmission fromanother power failure detection device or some alternate controller suchthat a network of power failure detection devices may be instantiated.The power failure detection network may allow an extension of thenetwork beyond the range of the transmitter in a power failure detectiondevice. In embodiments the battery powered wireless lighting devices maycontain a wireless transmitter and receiver allowing the power failuredetection network to be extended through a network of battery poweredwireless lighting devices that may propagate control information throughthe network to detection devices and wireless lights beyond the range ofthe original control sources.

In embodiments, an emergency lighting function may be integrated into anLED light bulb or compact fluorescent light bulb by integrating an LEDlight source and a power source such as a battery into the bulb wherethe LED) light source and integrated power source operate on a detectedpower outage, bulb failure or any detected condition that may requirethe backup light source to be illuminated. In these embodiments, aprocessor or electrical circuit may be present to detect the outage andcontrol the illumination of the backup light source in the bulb. Theintegrated power source may be rechargeable such as a super capacitor orrechargeable battery that would allow the storage of energy to be usedduring a power outage, bulb failure or any detected condition that mayrequire the backup light source to be illuminated. The LED light bulb orcompact fluorescent light bulb may operate independent of the backuplight source integrated into the bulb. In embodiments of compactfluorescent light bulbs, the backup light source, power source andcircuitry may be designed into the section of the housing containing theelectronic ballast such that when the outage or failure is detected, thelight source within the electronic ballast housing is illuminated. Insome embodiments, a switch sense function may be integrated into the LEDlight bulb or compact fluorescent light bulb to add the ability of theemergency lighting function to be able to detect the state ofcontrolling devices to allow the processor or electrical circuit to usethe state of the controlling devices to decide on whether to illuminatethe backup light source with the integrated power source. In embodimentsthat detect a bulb failure, there may be additional electrical circuitrywhich may monitor the primary light source to determine if there hasbeen a failure of the primary light source. By way of an example, acurrent sensing may be implemented to determine if current is flowingthrough the primary light source. In a case where the primary lightsource has power applied but no current is flowing through the primarylight source, the processor or electrical circuit may detect that as afailure of the primary light source. In an embodiment, a light sensormay be used to detect a failure of the primary light source (e.g., itmay detect a light source outage).

In embodiments, a light fixture may contain two sockets. In one socket aregular light bulb may be installed and in the other socket a UPS orbattery backed light bulb may be installed that only operates when adisruption in power is detected. The size and type of socket for primaryand backup lighting may be any size or type to support any bulbmentioned herein as required by the application. The UPS light bulb maycontain any functionality mentioned herein. By way of an example, thelight source may illuminate during rolling or scheduled blackouts (e.g.,regular power outages schedule by the power utility). In an embodiment,the trim of a fixture may contain a light source and a battery backup orsimilar local power source such that the light fixture trim may beilluminated powered by the battery backup when a disruption of power isdetected. In an embodiment, the one of the two sockets of the fixturemay be driven by an external battery backed inverter that may be capableof detecting a power outage and supply power from a backup power source.In embodiments, the device with two sockets may be designed in any sizeor shape lighting fixture housing.

In embodiments, a power outage light bulb may be designed in which thelight source may solely be driven by an integrated power source such asa battery. In such an embodiment, the external power source may have anelectrical connection to the bulb however the external power source maybe used for other reasons such as to detect a disruption of power, torecharge an integrated battery, to allow a switch sense circuit todetect the state of the switch, for external communication over thewired connection and the like. By way of an example, a power outagelight bulb may have a connection to AC power through an Edison base. Thepower outage light bulb may contain a recharge component powered fromthe AC power input and an LED light source. The power outage light bulbmay detect whether AC power is present or not and may contain aprocessor or electrical circuitry to connect battery power to drive theLED light source based on the detection of the presence of AC power. Byway of an example, a power failure light bulb may be designed thatilluminates the light source using the integrated power source when ACpower is absent at its wired input. In an embodiment, the power outagelight bulb may contain switch sense circuitry such that it detectwhether a controlling device such as a wall switch may be in an on oroff position. In embodiments, the power outage light bulb may beintegrated into an emergency lighting device or fixture to meetelectrical code for emergency lighting where the power outage light bulbconverts a normal fixture in to an emergency lighting device or fixturethat meets code. In some embodiments, a method of wireless control maybe integrated into the power outage light bulb to provide additionalmethods of control. In one embodiment, a power outage light bulb mayinclude a wireless receiver or transceiver such that it may becontrolled independent of its wired interface. In another embodiment, apower outage light bulb may include a motion sensor. In such anembodiment, the power outage light bulb may be capable of operatingduring a power outage but may also provide general illumination ascontrolled by the motion sensor and powered by the integrated battery.It is to be appreciated that embodiments of the power outage light bulbmay contain any form of wireless control mentioned herein.

In embodiments, an emergency lighting device may be designed that iscontrolled only by a light sensor. If the detected light level dropsbelow a certain threshold, the emergency lighting device may illuminatepowered by an integrated battery source. Thus, a switch may apply powerto the light source in response to the detected light level (e.g., alight sensitive switch). When power is returned and the light source isilluminated, the control component may reset the light sensitive switchto normal mode. In some embodiments, a light sensitive switch may alsobe part of a light bulb with a small light source and battery that isonly activated when it detects no ambient light. In some embodiments,the light sensitive switch may also have a time of day clock that may becombined with the output of the light sensor to determine when toswitchover. By way of an example, the light sensitive switch may only beenabled at certain times of day.

In one embodiment, a power failure detector may control wirelesslighting devices that have a connection to external power andadditionally contain an integrated power source. By way of an example, alight fixture or luminaire may be designed with a connection to ACpower, a light source, an integrated rechargeable battery and a wirelessreceiver that may receive control from a power failure detector. Innormal operation, the light fixture or luminaire may be controlled by awall switch to turn on or off the light source. In the event that apower failure detector detects a disruption in AC power, it may transmita control message to the light fixture or luminaire to turn on the lightsource powered by the integrated battery. In some embodiments, theintegrated battery may be large enough to sustain a high light intensityto provide general illumination for an area. In one embodiment, a tasklighting fixture used in a manufacturing facility may be attached to awork bench. In some locations, the power utility may schedule poweroutages for extended periods of time due to capacity limitations. Insuch a case, a power failure detector or remote control may transmit tothe task lighting fixture to switch to battery power. The lightintensity may be at or close to full intensity allowing a worker at thebench to continue working through the scheduled outage. A task lightingfixture such as this would allow work to continue through an outagetherefore limiting productivity losses that may be experienced due to aloss of usable light. Thus, the task lighting fixture of a WirelessEmergency Lighting System and power outage detector operate as a gridshifting system where the grid shifting function is required as a resultof the power outage. It is to be appreciated that any lighting devicewith a connection to external power, an integrated power source, a lightsource and a wireless receiver may receive control from a power outagedetector, remote control or other transmitting device to control toprovide illumination during a power outage or to provide a higher lightintensity for general illumination to allow for normal activity duringthe outage. It is to be appreciated that by distributing battery powerin the lighting devices, the need for a generator or large energystorage device to support the lighting installation may be reduced oreliminated.

In some emergency or power outage lighting system embodiments, controlof emergency or power outage lighting functionality may be distributedover a wide area network such as a 2.5G, 3G, wireless broadband etcnetwork where a wide area network receiver or transceiver in thelighting device may provide the ability for an external control deviceattached to the wide area network to communicate with and control theend device. In some embodiments, a battery powered wireless lightingmodule may receive power outage information or control through a widearea network connection and be able use its integrated power sourcebased on the control received over the wide area network. In someembodiments, a battery backed wireless lighting device with a connectionto external power may receive power outage information or controlthrough a wide area network connection and be able use its integratedpower source based on the control received over the wide area network.By way of an example, an externally powered battery backed wirelesslighting device may be designed as a street lamp that is normallypowered by an external power source (such as AC power). During a poweroutage the lighting device may receive a command via a 3G receiver topower the light source using the integrated battery. When the poweroutage is over, the lighting device may detect the return of power orreceive control from the 30 network to return to using the externalpower source. In embodiments, an external controller that may controlone or more emergency or power outage lighting devices may receivecontrol over the wide area network. The external controller may thencontrol the one or more lighting device to operate as required duringemergency or power outage situations. By way of an example, a serverinstalled in a commercial building may have a 3G connection and mayreceive commands to control the lighting installation during anemergency or power outage situation. The server may have a wired orwireless connection to the emergency or power outage lighting devicessuch that it may command the devices to use the embedded battery powerduring the emergency or power outage situation. In some embodiments, thecontrol received over the wide area network may be to schedule the useof the embedded power source of a lighting device. In cases where aschedule power outage or rolling blackout may be common, control may bedistributed to controllers or lighting devices to schedule the use ofthe embedded battery power throughout the lighting installation. Anadvantage of using a wide area network may be that it does not requireany additional infrastructure to provide the communication from anexternal controlling source to the emergency or power outage lightingsystem. A power utility or other service provider may be able to controlend devices during an emergency or power outage without having to alteror add to the infrastructure of an end customer. In embodiments, thepower outage indication received via a wide area network may extend toany type of device requiring a power outage indication and may provide acontrol during a power outage for devices such as a lighting device,lighting adapter, lighting fixture, troffer, lamp or lamp base, ballast,lighting power supplies, lighting control device and the like,television, television peripheral, computer, servers, network equipment,storage devices, appliance, washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator,freezer, electric range, microwave oven, electric water heater, vacuumcleaner, cell phone charger, stereo, air conditioner, HVAC devices,electric or hybrid vehicles, electric motors, portable generators andbackup power sources, uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), inverters,industrial and manufacturing machinery etc.

In embodiments, a system may be created including a Power OutageCeiling/Task Lighting Device with a Wireless Receiver having aconnection to external power, an integrated power source and a wirelessremote control such that a user may turn on the light source powered bythe integrated power source during a power outage via the wirelessremote control. In some embodiments, the wireless remote control may bea power outage module that is connected to a power source to monitorwhether the power source is available or not and transmit to one or morePower Outage Ceiling/Task Lighting Device with Wireless Receiver to turnthe light sources on during a detected outage. In some embodiments, theLighting Device may contain a real time clock to maintain time of day ora calendar. In some embodiments, the wireless remote control may providean interface to program the Lighting Device allowing the Lighting Deviceto be programmed to operate based on time of day. In the case wherepower outages are scheduled, with knowledge of the schedule a user mayprogram the lighting device to operate automatically to provide a lightsource through the outage. In normal operation, the Power OutageCeiling/Task Lighting Device with Wireless Receiver may operate poweredfrom the external power source and may be controlled by a power deliveryswitch such as a wall switch such that the wall switch may turn theLighting Device on and off, dim or control in any other manner mentionedherein with a second form of wireless control allowing a user to operatethe Lighting Device through the wireless receiver using the wirelessremote control independent from or in conjunction with the externalpower source. In some embodiments, the battery may be recharged ifneeded while external power is applied and when power goes out a usermay turn on the light powered by an integrated power source the wirelessremote control. A user may turn on a room full of Power OutageCeiling/Task Lighting Devices with a single remote control. It is to beappreciated that a wireless remote control may control one or moreLighting Devices on more than one lighting circuits. By way of anexample, a commercial office building can indicate which lightsthroughout the office will use the backup power source but these lightsmay be controlled by a single emergency remote. In some embodiments, oneor more wireless remote controls may be used to control one or moreLighting Devices on one or more lighting circuits. In some embodiments,the wireless remote control allows a user to dim a light or select frommultiple lighting levels to conserve battery power and thus extend theamount of time that usable light is available. The claimed subjectmatter may be designed in any size or shape housing to meet therequirements of any standard size bulb (e.g. PAR30, PAR38, A19, R30,MR16 etc), non-standard size bulb, fixture, compact fluorescent bulb,fluorescent bulb or lamp (e.g. T4, T5, T8, circular etc.) or down lightassembly (e.g. recessed fixtures, fluorescent fixtures or down lightfixtures for residential, commercial or industrial lighting), or thelike. It is to be appreciated that any combination of wireless controlmentioned herein may be used in conjunction with the claimed subjectmatter.

In embodiments of emergency wireless lighting devices, a system may becreated including a Battery Backed LED Driver Module for LED fixturescontaining a connection to external power, an integrated power source, awireless receiver and the capability to drive the LED light source and apower outage module containing a power outage detector to detect adisruption in power and a wireless transmitter such that the poweroutage module may control the light source powered by the Battery BackedLED Driver Module via the power outage module. In embodiments, a systemmay be created including a power outage module and a Battery BackedBallast with a wireless receiver to perform the functions mentionedherein for fluorescent lighting. In embodiments, the power outage modulemay be connected to a power source to monitor whether the power sourceis available or not and transmit to one or more Battery Backed LEDDriver Module for LED fixtures to control the light source. In the caseof a detected power outage, the power outage module may transmit to theBattery Backed LED Driver Module for LED fixtures to turn the lightsource on powered by integrated battery power. In some embodiments, theBattery Backed LED Driver Module for LED fixtures may contain a realtime clock to maintain time of day or a calendar. In some embodiments, awireless remote control may provide an interface to program and controlthe Battery Backed LED Driver Module for LED fixtures allowing theBattery Backed LED Driver Module for LED fixtures to be programmed tooperate based on time of day. In some embodiments, the Battery BackedLED Driver Module for LED fixtures may be configured to perform gridshifting to transfer some of all of the power consumed to be supplied bythe integrated battery. In the case where power outages are scheduled,with knowledge of the schedule a user may program the driver module tooperate automatically to provide a light source through the outage. Innormal operation, the Battery Backed LED Driver Module for LED fixturesmay operate the light source powered from the external power source andmay be controlled by a power delivery switch such as a wall switch suchthat the wall switch may turn the light source on and off, dim orcontrol in any other manner mentioned herein with a second form ofwireless control allowing a user to operate the driver module and lightsource via the wireless receiver using the power outage module orwireless remote control independent from or in conjunction with theexternal power source. In some embodiments, the battery may be rechargedif needed while external power is applied and when power goes out a usermay turn on the light powered by an integrated power source the wirelessremote control.

In embodiments of wireless power outage lighting, a transmitterprogramming sequence method may be designed for a power outage detectorand wireless lighting modules to program a channel number into thedevices to operate independently from other devices that may beoperating on a separate channel number in the same area. The devices maybe received by a customer on a default channel. With no changes, theunits should work together out of the box for any configuration. In someembodiments, the wireless lighting module or wireless lighting devicemay have a dip switch or similar to assign a channel number to themodule or device. In embodiments a user may set the channel with dipswitch on receiver side. A user may press the buttons on a power outagedetector to enter channel programming mode. By way of an example, theuser may press the ON and the FLASHLIGHT button together and hold themboth down for 5 seconds. Channel programming mode automatically starts.An LED on the power outage detector may blink in a pattern to indicateprogramming mode. The power outage detector may cycle through thechannels one by one by transmitting the ON command for each channel,three seconds per channel. When a user sees the desired receiver turnon, they may press a button on a power outage detector and that channelthat was being transmitted when the button is pushed is programmed inpower outage detector. The power outage detector may be permanentlyprogrammed on that channel (burned in FLASH memory of microcontroller).It is to be appreciated that any number of channels or sequencing of thechannels by the transmitter may be used in conjunction with the claimedsubject matter.

In embodiments of a portable lantern responsive to a power outagedetector, the lantern may respond to wireless control of a night lightmode in the lantern. In night light mode, the lantern may emit a lowerlight level than in a brighter mode. The power outage detector or analternate remote control may turn on and off night light mode. A poweroutage detector or an alternate remote control may toggle through nightlight mode, bright mode and off with pushes of the ON button. In someembodiments, a brightness control or dimming of night light moderemotely may be possible. In some embodiments, an auto shutoff time maybe associated with the night light mode and the auto shutoff may be setor cleared by the method of control used to set the operation of thelantern.

In some embodiments, a remote light controller may be combined with asmoke detector such that a detection of an alarm condition correspondingto detected smoke may cause the remote light controller to transmit toturn on wireless lights. In one embodiment, path or stair lights may beilluminated wirelessly in response to a condition detected at smokedetector. In some embodiments, a wireless push button may be used as anas accessory to control wireless lights. In alternate embodiments, aburglar system may control wireless lights based on sensor inputstrigger the burglar system to transmit control to wireless lights. Inalternate embodiments, laptop and smart phones may control of wirelesslighting devices that are part of a wireless power outage lightingsystem instead of or in addition to a power outage detector.

In embodiments of the wireless power outage lighting system, ahospitality kit for power failure lighting may be designed comprising ofa power outage detector built into electrical outlet or as a retrofitelectrical outlet that may replace an existing outlet. In such a case,the power outage detector electrical outlet may contain controls such aspush buttons, to control the wireless lights responsive to the poweroutage detector independent of a power outage. Wireless lights may bedesigned with tamper proof mounting to prevent theft. By way of anexample, two security screws may be used to mount a wireless lightingmodule such that a person may have more difficulty in removing the lightfrom its installed location. In some embodiments, a light source may beprovided in the outlet in addition to the control for the remote lights.In another embodiment, a power outage detector may be plugged into anoutlet or hard wired to electrical power above a ceiling tile, in accesspanel or similar place in a hotel, retail store or the like where it maydetect a power outage and transmit to wireless lighting modules toilluminate during a power outage.

In some embodiments, a pseudorandom delay may be implemented to delaytransmitting from the detection of an outage to allow multiple systemsor transmitters to operate in the same area without interfering witheach other. A protocol that allows multiple simultaneous transmissions(for example operating on different frequencies) may be implemented toavoid interference. In alternate embodiments, a time slot protocol timedfrom when a power outage detector detects an outage such that the poweroutage detector sends when the outage occurs then waits for its channelslot to send again.

In embodiments of a wireless power outage lighting system, a wide areanetwork power outage detector may have the ability to send a text, dataor other indication that a power outage has occurred via a cellularnetwork if electricity goes out. The power outage detector may containor connect to a cellular modem to make the transmission. In someembodiments, the wide area network power outage detector may have a USBport or similar that a network interface device may plug into to allowit to connect to a particular cellular, WAN, LAN or other network. Insome embodiments, the wide area network power outage detector may have aGSM or CDMA modem integrate that allows it to connect to a wirelessnetwork and send a text message to a destination phone number. Inembodiments, the destination phone number may be configured at the widearea network power outage detector such that a user may configure thedevice to send texts or emails to any end user they desire.

In embodiments of a wireless power outage lighting system, a poweroutage lighting system lantern may be designed to operate as a portablelight that may be responsive to the transmissions of a power outagedetector. The intent is that the power outage lighting system lanternallows a user to add a portable lighting device to the wireless poweroutage lighting system. The power outage lighting system lantern may bestored on a shelf by the user until they anticipate an outage or anoutage has already occurred at which time they can pull the lantern offthe shelf and place one or more around the house. Thereafter, they maymove the lanterns as needed. The lantern may have a push button on thelantern to turn it on, off or toggle between brightness levels. Thelantern may have a wireless receiver to allow it to be controlled by apower outage detector or remote control. The power outage lightingsystem lantern may have two brightness levels—full brightness and alower brightness level such as a night light mode. The power outagelighting system lantern may be powered by batteries. In one example, thelantern may be powered by four D cell batteries. The lantern may containa low battery indication such as one or more LEDs indicating when thebattery capacity has dropped below a certain level. In some embodiments,the lantern may auto shutoff after it is turned on. By way of anexample, after turned on by the transmission of a power outage detector,a lantern may turn off automatically after thirty minutes. In anembodiment, the lantern may have a USB type A female connector providingonly +5V and GND for charging an external device. In alternateembodiments, the lantern may have any type of charging connector thatmay allow for the charging of an external device from the power sourceof the lantern. In the event of a power outage, the lantern may provideillumination but may also provide the capability to charge a cell phone,laptop, handheld computer or other device via the charging port. Thelantern may have a weatherproof housing for indoor and outdoor use. Thehousing of the lantern may contain a hook for hanging the lantern and/ofa handle for carrying the lantern.

In embodiments of the power outage detector, a power outage detector maybe integrated with a cordless phone or the base station for a cordlessphone such that it may be able to send a text, send data or make anautomated phone call over the phone lines if it is a land line or if itis a voice over IP phone lines, over the Internet. In some embodiments,there may be a small backup battery to allow the power outage detectorto continue to operate and transmit to wireless lights to turn them onduring a power outage. In some embodiments, a user may type in numberthat a text would be sent to or may program an emergency phone number toautomate a call. In alternate embodiments, the power outage detector maybe embedded into a cordless phone or any AC powered device where a poweroutage detector and transmitter may transmit to wireless lights upondetection of an outage from inside an AC powered device.

In embodiments of lighting installations where DC power is distributedin a building to provide a power source for lighting, LED lightingdevices with an integrated rechargeable battery may be deployed to storeenergy to provide lighting during a power outage or for grid shiftingpurposes. In some embodiments a Lighting-2-Grid architecture may beimplemented where a return path exists such that a power output fromeach lighting device may return power back to a grid tie inverter thatwould allow for returning power to the grid. In embodiments, a lightingdevice may have a diode OR connection to the return path such that alllighting devices may be capable of returning power to the grid via theORed connection. The output of each lighting device used for the purposeof returning power to the grid may be electrically connected so that thediode ORing of the lighting devices provides an electrical path in onedirection to the grid tie inverter that ultimately returns power to thegrid. In an embodiment where AC power is distributed in a building toprovide a power source for lighting, the output of each lighting devicefor the purpose of returning power to the grid may be electricallyconnected through the diode ORing however the connection of the lightingdevices may produce a DC offset on the AC power lines that mayultimately be connected through an electrical circuit that can extractthe DC power from the AC power lines. The extracted power may then bereturned to the grid through a grid tie inverter.

In embodiments including a grid tie inverter to return power to thegrid, an intelligent power delivery switch may be designed to allow auser to leave a wall switch closed to allow grid tie inverter to returnpower to the grid while the light source remains off. In such anembodiment, the intelligent power deliver switch may apply power to thelight but provide an indication to the light that it should remain off.In one embodiment, a triac controlled dimming circuit contained in theintelligent power delivery switch may chop the waveform to the light ina way to communicate that the light should be off but that the grid tieinverter may still return power to the grid. By way of an example, ifthe triac controlled dimming circuit contained in the intelligent powerdelivery switch may chop the waveform such that between 99.5% and 99.7%of the waveform may be chopped. When a circuit in the lighting devicedetects the waveform with those characteristics, it may disconnect powerfrom the light source via a relay or other switching device controlledby the circuitry in the lighting device. The circuitry inside thelighting device may then activate the grid tie inverter circuit toreturn power to the grid.

In some embodiments, a lighting driver module or lighting device mayinclude electrical terminals (e.g. wires, screws, terminal blocks,connectors etc.) allowing the lighting device to have an electricalconnection to an external battery, power supply or power source. By wayof an example, a lighting driver module or lighting device may not havean internal power source but may instead have an external battery, powersupply or power source that may be wired to through the electricalterminals on the lighting driver module or lighting device. In someembodiments, there may be protection circuitry on the input power fromthe external power source. In some embodiments, one or more lightingdriver modules or lighting devices may be connected to an externalbattery, power supply or power source. The lighting driver module may bean LED driver module, LED power supply, fluorescent ballast and thelike. The lighting device may be any standard size bulb (e.g. PAR30,PAR38, A19, R30, MR16 etc), non-standard size bulb, fixture, compactfluorescent bulb, fluorescent bulb or lamp (e.g. T4, T5, T8, circularetc.) or down light assembly (e.g. recessed fixtures, fluorescentfixtures or down light fixtures for residential, commercial orindustrial lighting), or the like.

In embodiments of power outage devices or grid shifting devices, abattery embedded outlet adapter including an integrated battery, aconnection to plug into an electrical outlet, a connector to allow anelectrical plug to connect to it and a wired or wireless communicationmethod such that a smart meter or smart grid controller device maycommunicate with the adapter to switch over to the battery during apower outage or for grid shifting purposes. In embodiments, the batterybacked outlet adapter may contain electrical circuitry allowing externalpower and battery power to be controlled such that some or all powerrequired by one or more connected devices may be supplied by eitherpower source. By way of an example, a battery embedded outlet adaptermay plug into a wall outlet such that AC power may come into theadapter. The battery embedded outlet adapter may contain an inverter toconvert DC from the embedded battery to AC to power connected devices.An electrical circuit and processor to control the amount of power frominput AC power and from embedded battery power may be included in thebattery embedded outlet adapter. The smart meter may also have a batteryin it to allow it to operate during an outage.

In embodiments of grid shifting lighting devices, a system may becreated including a Grid Shifting Ceiling/Task Lighting Device with aWireless Receiver containing a connection to external power and anintegrated power source and a wireless remote control such that a usermay turn on the light source powered by the integrated power sourceduring a power outage (such as a scheduled power outage or rollingblackout) or when there is a need to reduce power consumption on the viathe wireless remote control. In some embodiments, the wireless remotecontrol may be a power outage module that is connected to a power sourceto monitor whether the power source is available or not and transmit toone or more Grid Shifting Ceiling/Task Lighting Device with WirelessReceiver to turn the light sources on during a detected outage. Inembodiments, the lighting device may be programmable, may have a realtime clock, may be AC or externally powered and controlled by a wallswitch allowing normal light operation, may allow the battery to berecharged while AC power or external power is applied or when power goesout may allow a user control the light source from the RFremote/controller while powered by the battery power source. Inembodiments, a grid shifting module installed on an electrical circuitto determine how much power is being consumed by the circuit may detectthe amount of power consumed on a circuit and transmit to a GridShifting Ceiling/Task Lighting Device with Wireless Receiver to transfersome of the power consumed to the integrated power source. The gridshifting module may be installed at a wall switch, circuit breaker orany other location in the power distribution to monitor how much poweris passing through a point in an electrical circuit. In someembodiments, the Lighting Device may contain a real time clock tomaintain time of day or a calendar. In some embodiments, the wirelessremote control may provide an interface to program the Lighting Deviceallowing the Lighting Device to be programmed to operate based on timeof day. In the case where power outages are scheduled, with knowledge ofthe schedule a user may program the lighting device to operateautomatically to provide a light source through the outage. In normaloperation, the Grid Shifting Ceiling/Task Lighting Device with WirelessReceiver may operate powered from the external power source and may becontrolled by a power delivery switch such as a wall switch such thatthe wall switch may turn the Lighting Device on and off, dim or controlin any other manner mentioned herein with a second form of wirelesscontrol allowing a user to operate the Lighting Device through thewireless receiver using the wireless remote control independent from orin conjunction with the external power source. In some embodiments, thebattery may be recharged if needed while external power is applied andwhen power goes out a user may turn on the light powered by anintegrated power source the wireless remote control. A user may controla room full of Grid Shifting Ceiling/Task Lighting Devices with a singleremote control. It is to be appreciated that a wireless remote controlmay control one or more Lighting Devices on more than one lightingcircuits. By way of an example, a commercial office building canindicate which lights throughout the office will have some or all oftheir power supplied by internal power. These lights may be controlledby a single wireless remote. In some embodiments, one or more wirelessremote controls may be used to control one or more Lighting Devices onone or more lighting circuits. In some embodiments, the wireless remotecontrol allows a user to dim a light or select from multiple lightinglevels to conserve battery power and thus extend the amount of time thatusable light is available. The claimed subject matter may be designed inany size or shape housing to meet the requirements of any standard sizebulb (e.g. PAR30, PAR38, A19, R30, MR16 etc), non-standard size bulb,fixture, compact fluorescent bulb, fluorescent bulb or lamp (e.g. T4,T5, T8, circular etc.) or down light assembly (e.g. recessed fixtures,fluorescent fixtures or down light fixtures for residential, commercialor industrial lighting), or the like. It is to be appreciated that anycombination of wireless control mentioned herein may be used inconjunction with the claimed subject matter.

Control of grid shifting functionality may be distributed over a widearea network such as a 2.5G, 3G, wireless broadband etc network where awide area network receiver or transceiver in the grid shifting devicemay provide the ability for an external control device attached to thewide area network to communicate with the grid shifting end device. Insome embodiments, a wireless lighting device with a connection toexternal power and an integrated power source may receive grid shiftinginformation or control through a wide area network connection and beable to transition some or all of the power sourced to an integratedpower source based on the control received over the wide area network.By way of an example, an externally powered battery backed wirelesslighting device may be designed as a down light in a commercial officebuilding that is normally powered by an external power source (such asAC power). When there is a need to shift power to the integrated powersource, the lighting device may receive a command via a 3G receiver topower the light source using the integrated battery. In embodiments, anexternal controller that may control one or more grid shifting lightingdevices may receive control over the wide area network. The externalcontroller may then control the one or more lighting device to performgrid shifting functions. By way of an example, a grid shiftingcontroller may be installed in a commercial building to control one ormore lighting circuits. The grid shifting controller may have a 3Gconnection and may receive commands to control the lighting installationto perform grid shifting functions. The grid shifting controller mayhave a wired or wireless connection to the grid shifting lightingdevices such that it may command the devices to use the embedded batterypower in conjunction with or in lieu of the external power source. Insome embodiments, the control received over the wide area network may beto schedule the use of the embedded power source of a lighting device.In cases where a schedule power outage or rolling blackout may becommon, control may be distributed to controllers or lighting devices toschedule the use of the embedded battery power throughout the lightinginstallation. An advantage of using a wide area network may be that itdoes not require any additional infrastructure to provide thecommunication from an external controlling source. A power utility orother service provider may be able to control end devices for gridshifting purposes without having to alter or add to the infrastructureof an end customer.

With reference to FIG. 13, illustrated is a block diagram of a system1300 that provides illumination with a wireless light which may be usedin embodiments described herein. System 1300 includes a wirelesslighting module 1302 that can further comprise an interface component1304, a battery 1306, an LED controller 1308, LEDs 1310, and/or logic1312. The wireless lighting module 1302 can be incorporated into ahousing (not shown). Any size and/or shape housing can be employed withthe wireless lighting module 1302. According to another illustration,the housing can include at least a portion that is moveable (e.g.,manually by a user, automatically with a motor or the like) to allow fordirecting emitted light. For example, a remote control can provide asignal to manipulate a moveable portion of the housing. Moreover, thehousing can orient the LEDs 1310 in substantially any manner to providegeneral lighting (e.g., illuminating an indoor or outdoor area), tasklighting (e.g., reading), accent lighting, and so forth. The remotecontrol may also adjust settings associated with reducing powerconsumption from the battery, grid shifting, peak shedding, loadleveling or any other functionality discussed herein. In embodiments,there may be a connection to an external power source such as an ACpower source or the like.

The interface component 1304 can receive an input from a disparatedevice such as a remote control, sensor, another light and the like to,for example, adjust settings associated with grid shifting, peakshedding, load leveling or any other functionality discussed herein. Theinterface component 1304 can provide various adaptors, connectors,channels, communication paths, etc. to enable interaction with thedisparate device. Pursuant to an illustration, the input can bewirelessly transmitted (e.g., via an RF signal, an IR signal) from thedisparate device to the interface component 1304; thus, the interfacecomponent 1304 can be a receiver and/or a transceiver that obtains thewirelessly transferred signal. By way of example, an infrared sensor ormotion sensor can monitor occupancy in an environment and, upondetecting presence within the monitored environment, the sensor cantransmit a wireless input to the interface component 1304. It is to beappreciated that any type of sensors can be utilized in connection withthe claimed subject matter such as, but not limited to, infraredsensors, light sensors, proximity sensors, acoustic sensors, motionsensors, carbon monoxide and/or smoke detectors, thermal sensors,electromagnetic sensors, mechanical sensors, pressure sensors, chemicalsensors, and the like. According to another example, any type of remotecontrol can wirelessly communicate with the interface component 1304.For instance, the remote control can be a stand-alone remote control(e.g., the remote control 300 of FIG. 3) and/or incorporated into adisparate device (e.g., incorporated into a key fob, a programmablewireless transceiver integrated in an automobile.). Moreover, the remotecontrol can be a personal computer, a cellular phone, a smart phone, alaptop, a handheld communication device, a handheld computing device, aglobal positioning system, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and/orany other suitable device; such devices can communicate directly withthe interface component 1304 and/or via a network (e.g., local areanetwork (LAN), wide area network (WAN), cellular network). In accordwith another example, radio frequency identification (RFID) can beutilized to provide the input to the interface component 1304. As such,an RFID tag associated with a user can be detected when in range of theinterface component 1304, and lighting preferences of the particularuser (e.g., retained in memory) can be effectuated in response to thedetection of the user.

Additionally or alternatively, the interface component 1304 can be asensor that can monitor a condition associated with the wirelesslighting module 1302 to generate the input. According to anotherexample, the interface component 1304 can be a connector, port, etc.that couples to such sensor.

Further, the interface component 1304 can wirelessly transmit data(e.g., feedback, related to a current and/or anticipated future state)to a remote device and/or sensor. By way of another example, theinterface component 1304 can wirelessly communicate with an interfacecomponent of a disparate wireless lighting module to enable coordinatedoperation between more than one wireless lighting module. Following thisexample, an input can be retransmitted within a network of wirelesslighting modules, where the network of lighting modules can be dispersedwithin a geographic area.

An interface component 1304 integrated into the wireless lighting module1302 that allows it to be used stand alone, a sensor on the wirelesslighting module 1302 used for input or by a remote control that providesinput wirelessly to the wireless lighting module 1302, as describedherein (e.g., not connected by wire to the wireless lighting module1302) may be defined as wireless control. Wireless control allows theinstallation of the wireless lighting module 1302 in any indoor oroutdoor location where light may be desired without the need for a wiredconnection to control it.

The battery 1306 can be any number and/or type of battery. For instance,the battery 1306 can be a rechargeable battery. According to anotherexample, the battery 1306 can be a non-rechargeable battery. The battery1306 supplies power to the wireless lighting module 1302 to enableinstalling, moving, replacing, etc. the wireless lighting module 1302 atsubstantially any indoor or outdoor location while mitigating the needfor expensive and time consuming wiring and/or utilization ofaesthetically unpleasing and potentially inconvenient cords commonlyassociated with conventional lighting.

The LED controller 1308 can obtain instructions from the logic 1312 tocontrol operation of the LEDs 1310 as well as power management. Forexample, the LED controller 1308 may adjust settings associated withreducing power consumption from the battery, grid shifting, peakshedding, load leveling or any other functionality discussed herein. TheLED controller 1308, for example, can receive and effectuateinstructions to switch one or more LEDs 1310 on and/or off, change anintensity of illumination (e.g., brightness), switch a wavelength oflight emitted from the LEDs 1310 (e.g., to change light color),manipulate direction of illumination (e.g., by moving, rotating, etc.one or more of the LEDs 1310). It is contemplated that any number, type,color, arrangement, etc. of LEDs 1310 can be utilized with the wirelesslighting module 1302.

The logic 1312 employs the input obtained by the interface component1304. The logic 1312 can further include a state modification component1314, a timer component 1316, an intensity regulation component 1318,and/or a wavelength control component 1320; however, the logic 1312 caninclude a subset of these components 1314-1320. The state modificationcomponent 1314 may utilize input obtained via the interface component1304 to generate an instruction to change a state of one of more of theLEDs 1310. The state modification component 1314 effectuatestransitioning one or more LEDs 1310 to an on state, an off state, etc.Further, the state modification component 1314 can yield commands tostrobe one or more LEDs 1310 (e.g., periodically turning LED(s) 1310 onand off with substantially any periodicity). The state modificationcomponent 1314 can decipher that a received input pertains to one ormore of the LEDs 1310. Moreover, the state modification component 1314can analyze the input to determine whether to instruct the LEDcontroller 1308 to change the state (e.g., compare an input from asensor to a threshold, evaluate whether a condition has been met, basedupon retrieved instructions corresponding to the input retained inmemory.). The state modification component 1314 can also adjust settingsassociated with reducing power consumption from the battery, gridshifting, peak shedding, load leveling or any other functionalitydiscussed herein

The timer component 1316 can operate in conjunction with the statemodification component 1314. For instance, the timer component 1316 canenable delaying state changes. Thus, turning the LEDs 1310 on or off canbe delayed for an amount of time by the timer component 1316. Further,the amount of time for the delay can be predetermined, randomlyselected, included with the input obtained by the interface component1304 (e.g., based on a number of times a button of a remote control isdepressed), etc. According to another example, the timer component 1316can conserve battery life by enabling the state modification component1314 to switch the LEDs 1310 to an off state at a particular time ofday, after an elapsed amount of time subsequent to an input that turnedthe LEDs 1310 to the on state, and so forth. Pursuant to anotherillustration, the timer component 1316 can operate in conjunction withthe intensity regulation component 1318 and/or the wavelength controlcomponent 1320 described below.

The intensity regulation component 1318 can alter the intensity (e.g.,brightness) of the LEDs 1310 based upon the received input from theinterface component 1304. The intensity can be changed by the intensityregulation component 1318 adjusting a proportion of LEDs 1310 in an onstate to LEDs 1310 in an off state. Additionally or alternatively, theintensity regulation component 1318 can control the intensity of lightemitted by each of the LEDs 1310. According to an example, the interfacecomponent 1304 can obtain RFID related input that identifies thepresence of a particular user, and this user can have lightingpreferences stored in memory (not shown) associated with the wirelesslighting module 1302. Following this example, the particular user'spreferences may indicate that she desires the LEDs 1310 to be dimly lit,which can be effectuated by the intensity regulation component 1318.Pursuant to another example, upon a smoke detector or carbon monoxidedetector sensing smoke or carbon monoxide, respectively, the intensityregulation component 1318 can increase the brightness of theillumination of the LEDs 1310 to a highest level (e.g., while the statemodification component 1314 can strobe the LEDs 1310, the wavelengthcontrol component 1320 can change the color). It is to be appreciated,however, that the embodiments are not limited to the aforementionedexamples.

The wavelength control component 1320 can change the wavelength (e.g.,color) of light generated by the LEDs 1310 as a function of the inputobtained by the interface component 1304. For example, the LEDs 1310 canbe color changing LEDs, and the wavelength control component 1320 canyield commands to adjust the color based upon the input obtained by theinterface component 1304. By way of another example, the LEDs 1310 caninclude subsets of LEDs that yield differing colors, and the wavelengthcontrol component 1320 can select which of the LEDs 1310 to turn to theon state to yield the desired color.

A building wireless lighting kit may be comprised of wireless lightingdevices or wireless lighting modules where the wireless lighting devicesare installed in an area such as a room, residence, floor of an officebuilding etc where there may not be a need for wall switches, dimmerswitches etc. In such a kit, the wireless lighting devices may containforms of wireless power and wireless control to allow them to becompletely disconnected from and act with respect to the grid. In someembodiments, the building wireless lighting kit may contain a connectionto the grid to power the wireless lighting devices however the wirelesslighting devices may not have wired mechanisms to control them onindividual lighting circuits. The lighting devices in the buildingwireless lighting kit may contain wireless controls and haveintelligence built in such that no controlling switch may be necessary.By way of an example, a residence may be built without any wallswitches. The wireless lighting devices may contain wireless controlmechanisms such as motion sensors, light sensor etc. The wirelesslighting devices may contain a processor that may be programmed tomanage control of the building wireless lighting kit. The wirelesslighting devices may contain a wireless receiver or wireless transceiverallowing the devices to be controlled by a remote transmitter or by adisparate wireless lighting device allowing coordinated operation by agroup of wireless lighting devices. In one embodiment, the wirelesslighting device may be a ceiling light that contains a motion sensor,light sensor, wireless transceiver, a processor with a real time clockand a connection to external power. Also in this embodiment, the kit mayinclude a software program and a transmitter or transceiver that may beconnected to a computer running the software program such that it mayprogram, configure, gather status from etc the ceiling lights in thekit. With no controlling switch on the wired connection to externalpower, the wireless lighting devices would be controlled on by thewireless control mechanisms available to it. In a building wirelesslighting kit, the wireless ceiling lighting devices may be installedthroughout a room or floor of a building and be controlled only bywireless control or programmed by the software program, computer andconnected transmitter.

In embodiments, a wireless proximity aware remote control device thatturns on the lighting devices that are closest in proximity to remotecontrol may be implemented. In such an embodiment, the lighting devicesmay contain a mechanism to measure the range to the remote control anddetermine if it is the within range to be controlled by the remotecontrol. The lighting devices may be programmed or configured with adesired range such that when control is received from the remotecontrol, if the light device determines that it is within thepre-programmed range, it will be act on control or commands received bythe remote. In some embodiments, the lighting devices are wirelesslighting modules. In some embodiments, lighting devices may be groupedtogether such that they may coordinate operation to function in acoordinated fashion to turn on, off, dim or modulate operation of thelight sources as commanded by the remote control. In some embodiments,there may be two way communications between the wireless proximity awareremote control device and the lighting devices. If a group of lightsreceive control or a command from the wireless proximity aware lightingdevice, the lighting devices may respond to the command such that thefirst response received by the wireless proximity aware remote controldetermines which group of lights is within proximity. Then the wirelessproximity aware remote control may send a second command with a groupidentifier in it such that it only control the lighting devices that hadbeen previously determined to be closest in proximity to the remotecontrol. In some embodiments, the range between the remote control andone or more lighting devices may be determined prior to the controlbeing sent. With a range information table, the wireless proximity awareremote control may be able to send control or commands to the one ormore lighting devices within a set range as programmed in the wirelessproximity aware remote control. The method to determine proximity or adistance between the remote control and lighting devices may include butis not limited to round trip delay, time of arrival, use of globalpositioning satellites (GPS), signal strength, localization techniquesusing wireless networks such as Wifi, Zigbee etc, infrared, sonar, radarand the like. The wireless proximity aware remote control and lightingdevices may contain tightly synchronized clocks to determine time ofarrival. By way of an example, a user may be in one room in a residenceholding a wireless proximity aware remote control and want to controlthe lighting in only that room. The user may push a button to illuminatethe lights on the wireless proximity aware remote control. The wirelessproximity aware remote control may transmit a command to all of thelighting devices within range. This command may contain a timestamp atthe time of transmission. Upon receiving the transmission, the lightingdevices may time stamp the received time and compare it to the transmittime stamp. If the difference in time from the transmit time to thereceived time is less than some preset threshold then the lightingdevice may be within range of the remote control such that it should acton the remote control command. If a lighting device is beyond the rangeas determined by the time of flight calculation, perhaps in a adjacentroom, then it should not act on the remote control command. In someembodiments, light devices throughout an area may communicate betweenthemselves independent of the remote control to synchronize clocks, setup groups or operate in a coordinated fashion.

In embodiments, a disparate device such as a remote control, a remotesensor, another light, a power outage module and the like may alter thetransmit power out of a transmitter as a means to control lights locatedat different ranges with respect to the disparate device differently. Insome embodiments, the disparate device controls a wireless lightingmodule or an externally powered battery embedded wireless lightingdevice wherein the receiver within the module or device may receive thecontrol from the disparate device. By way of an example, there may befour buttons on a remote control that a user may push. Buttons on theremote control may provide on and off control to all of the wirelesslighting modules within a one hundred foot range by transmitting a 10 mWpower level control signal or message to all modules within that range.Buttons on the remote control may provide on and off to all of thewireless lighting modules within a fifteen foot range by transmitting a1.5 mW power level control signal or message to all modules within thatrange. Further, the wireless lighting modules may be installedthroughout a home. By using the different buttons, a user may turn thelights on and off only in the room they are in by using the low powertransmit buttons and turn on and off the lights throughout the house byusing the high power transmit buttons. It is to be appreciated that anycommand for lighting including on, off, dimming, color, timing,configuration or programming of lights and the like may be used inconnection with the claimed subject matter.

In embodiments, a disparate device such as a remote control, a remotesensor, another light, a power outage module and the like may be capableof transmitting on different control channels as a means to controllights differently located within range with respect to the disparatedevice. In some embodiments, the disparate device controls a wirelesslighting module or an externally powered battery embedded wirelesslighting device wherein the receiver within the module or device mayreceive the control from the disparate device with the control channelbeing part of the control message. By way of an example, there may befour buttons on a remote control that a user may push on a power outagemodule. One button on the remote control may provide on and off togglecontrol to all of the wireless lighting modules within range that areconfigured to be controlled by a first channel wherein the controlsignal or message contains an indication of the first channel to controlall modules within range. A second, third and fourth button on the poweroutage module may provide on and off toggle control to all of thewireless lighting modules within range that are configured to becontrolled by a second, third and fourth channel respectively whereinthe control signal or message contains an indication of those channelsto control all modules within range. Further, the wireless lightingmodules may be installed throughout a home. By using the differentbuttons, a user may turn the lights on and off only in an area or zonedesignated by a particular channel setting. In some embodiments, awireless lighting module or an externally powered battery embeddedwireless lighting device may be configured to respond to more than onechannel. In embodiments any number of channels or any format by whichone or more devices or modules can be addressed in the command to directa command to those devices or modules may be implemented. It is to beappreciated that any command for lighting including on, off, dimming,color, timing, configuration or programming of lights and the like maybe used in connection with the claimed subject matter.

A wireless lighting system may be comprised of battery powered wirelesslighting devices or wireless lighting modules that have an input jack toreceive external power, a rechargeable battery inside, a rechargecomponent, a light source, one or more sensors and RF control, an energyharvesting mechanism such as solar panels, wind mills etc and powercabling to cable power from the energy harvesting mechanism to theinstalled battery powered wireless lighting devices. In one embodiment,a residential house contains an installation of recessed LED lightfixtures that are battery powered wireless lighting devices that have arechargeable battery, recharge component, DC input and wireless control.The residential house may contain solar panels on its roof top. A powerbus from the solar panels may be wired throughout the house such that apower feed plugs into all of the recessed LED light fixtures throughoutthe house. The battery powered wireless lighting devices may becontrolled by motion sensors, light sensor or wireless receiver suchthat the lights may be turned on, off, dimmed etc remotely by a user. Inthis embodiment, the batteries may charge during day and be used atnight or in day if needed. One or more windmills are adjacent to theresidence and a power bus is cabled from the windmills to the residence.In this case, the batteries may be charged during the day or at night.In an embodiment, a second plug in point may be accessible to allow agenerator to be plugged in for use if the battery charge is not kepthigh enough for the lighting devices to operate properly. Assuming 10 Wof power required for each fixture, then if there are 20 fixtureslighting for the entire house requires 200 Whr of power. To providinglighting for 5 hours a day requires approximately 1 KWHr per day. Inembodiments, a plug in receptacles for lamps may be developed that mayallow similar operation of the lamps designed as battery poweredwireless lighting devices.

In embodiments, a processor or electrical circuit may provide amechanism to reduce current through the LED light source when batteriescapacity falls below a threshold to lessen the chance that the motionsensor would false trigger when LED light source is turned off. In caseswhere a motion sensor may be in the wireless lighting device, when thebattery provides power to the LED light source, the battery voltage maydrop significantly due to the high power consumption of the LED lightsource. When the motion sensor does not detect motion for some period oftime the light source may turn off and the voltage level may increasesignificantly and quickly potentially causing the motion sensor tofalsely trigger. In such a case, reducing the amount of power requiredby the LED light source may reduce the size of the voltage swing fromlight source on to light source off and reduce or eliminate the chanceof a false trigger. By way of an example, an LED spotlight with a 2 WLED light source, a motion sensor and 3 D cell batteries may detectmotion and turn the light source on. Prior to motion detected when thelight source is off, the battery voltage may be measured at 4.0V. Afterthe light source is turned on, the battery voltage may be measured at3.4V. This is caused by the heavy load on the batteries pulling thebattery voltage down to a lower voltage. After motion is not detectedfor some period of time, the light source is turned off and the batteryvoltage will return to 4.2V in a very short period of time (perhaps inthe millisecond range). If upon detecting that the battery voltage hasdipped below 4.1V, the processor that controls the current drawn by theLED light source may reduce the current draw by some amount. By way ofan example, if the processor reduces the current draw by 50%, thebattery voltage with the light source on may only be 3.7V thus reducingthe voltage swing from light source on and light source off thusreducing or eliminating the chance that there will be false triggersfrom the motion sensor.

In embodiments of wireless lighting devices, there may be a chargingport accessible in the base of a rechargeable street or sidewalk lamp.In such embodiments, the rechargeable street or sidewalk lamp may berecharged by plugging in an off grid power source to the charging port.In embodiments, the off grid power source may be another battery or maybe derived from an energy harvesting method such as using solar cells,capturing radiofrequency energy, converting kinetic energy to electricalenergy (including converting motion or tension into electrical energy),converting thermal energy into electrical energy, converting wind energyinto electrical energy, and the like. By way of an example, a user maypush a cart with a car battery or recharger and plug into a port on thebase to recharge. In another example, pads in the street can be used togenerate energy to recharge the battery. The pressure from the carspassing over the pads or mats in the street is converted to electricalenergy for the charging of the batteries in the lamps. In embodiments ofany form of wireless control may be associated with the rechargeablestreet or sidewalk lamp. Wireless control, as in relation to lightingfacilities of the present invention, may be defined as any controlaspect that provides a controlling function to the lighting facilitywithout the use of a wired connection, such as a wired controlinterface, wired power control, and the like. Control aspects mayinclude, but are not limited to, a wireless remote control interface(e.g. RF remote control, another lighting facility), a wireless powercontroller (e.g. control of the source of power to the LEDs, such asincluding integrated energy storage device(s) and AC power), a wirelesscontrol input (e.g. an environmental sensor input), internal programmedcontrol (e.g. internal program store controlled through a state machineor processor), and the like.

In embodiments of grid shifting devices, a microgrid may be constructedout of renewable energy sources (solar, wind etc) and rechargeablebatteries in end devices that are grid shifting capable includinglights, appliances, washers, clothes dryers, refrigerators, freezers,etc. The microgrid may be grid tied, might have the ability to off loador power share with the renewable/stored energy sources and may be ableto return power to the grid or to other sub-microgrids in the area. Forexample, four lighting circuits and two electrical circuits withappliances may have embedded rechargeable batteries and grid tieinverters. If one lighting circuit uses all of its stored energy, it maydraw energy from one of the other “sub-microgrids”.

In embodiments of a night light, the night light may contain a batterybackup and port to charge a cell phone or other device. In someembodiments, the night light may be built with an integratedrechargeable battery and a charging circuit for increasing the charge ofthe integrated battery off of the connection to an outlet supplying ACpower. In some embodiments, the batteries may be either rechargeable ornon-rechargeable and may be removable and replaceable. In suchembodiments, the charging circuit may be capable of distinguishing whichtype of battery is installed in the night light and may inhibit chargingif it is not a battery compatible with the charging circuit. In someembodiments, the night light may have a USB or other connector to allowthe rechargeable batteries in the night light to be charged via a USBinterface. In some embodiments, the night light may have a USB connectorto allow devices to be plugged into it for charging.

In embodiments of wireless lighting devices, a battery powered motionsensor LED light with a day/night sensor may be designed wherein a timedelay is implemented from the time the day/night sensor transitions fromday to night before the motion sensor is enabled. In such an embodiment,a user can use an overhead light sometimes and when they turn it off,they will not immediately get picked up by the motion sensor. By way ofan example, a 3 second delay may be implemented in enabling the motionsensor to provide enough time for someone to exit a room before turningthe light on due to motion detection.

In embodiments of wireless lighting devices containing a light sensor,the light sensor may be used as on/off switch. In such embodiments, thelight sensor may be behind transparent or semi-transparent cover suchthat a user may block light into the sensor for example with a finger orhand and turn light on. The wireless lighting device may latch thatlight on state when the light sensor detects very little or no ambientlight for some known amount of time. By way of an example, if circuitryin the wireless lighting device detects a low level of ambient light forbetween 2 and 10 seconds then returns to a high level of ambient light,the light may be latched in the on state. In some embodiments, the onstate entered in this manner may start an auto shutoff timer such thatthe light may turn off automatically when the timer expires. Inalternate embodiments, the light sensor control may be a toggle suchthat the first action turns the light on, the second action turns thelight off and so on. In alternate embodiments, the light sensor controlmay enable a motion sensor such that the detected motion subsequent tothe light sensor control action may turn the light on. In suchembodiments, an auto shutoff timer may start when motion is lastdetected and automatically turn the light off when the timer expires.The light sensor switch may see transition for light level to off tolight level in some short period of time. In some embodiments, the lightsensor control actions may set timers for different actions based on howlong circuitry detects the light sensor below some threshold. By way ofan example, 2 seconds turn off, 5 seconds dim by 50%.

In embodiments, a remote control device may use multiple levels oftransmit power out of a transmitter to control receiver lights based onproximity to the remote control device. A remote control may be astandalone remote control or incorporated into a disparate device.Moreover the remote control can be a personal computer, a cellularphone, a smart phone, a laptop, a handheld communication device, ahandheld computing device or any other suitable device. In anembodiment, four buttons may be present on a standalone remote control.The receiver lights may be battery powered wireless lighting modules orwireless lighting devices that may have a connection to wired power. Twobuttons may control all lights within a one hundred foot range bytransmitting a signal at approximately 10 mW transmit power level. Thesetwo buttons may control lights that are in multiple rooms of a housewhere the receivers within the lights may be able to receive thetransmission. Two other buttons on the standalone remote control maycontrol all lights within a shorter range by putting out a 1.5 mWtransmission. These two buttons may control lights that are in within 15feet from where a user is located such as in the same room or area.Thus, using the lower power transmission buttons a user may turn thelights off only in the room they are in. In an alternate embodiment, theremote control may be a power outage detector that may detect a poweroutage and transmit control to off grid lights that may be turned onduring a power outage. The power outage detector may transmit control atone or more transmit power levels to control off grid lights withindifferent ranges of the power outage detector. By way of an example,multiple power outage detectors may be used in an area such as a housewherein each power outage detector is dedicated to control power outagelighting devices in a dedicated area with the area defined by thetransmit power level of the power outage detector. In another example,the power outage detector may be removable from a wall outlet and usedas a remote control to turn on and off power outage lighting deviceswithin range. Upon detecting a power outage, the power outage detectormay transmit at a high transmit power level however when removed from awall outlet, the power outage detector used as a remote control maytransmit at a lower transmit power level. In such an example, the poweroutage detector may be able to control all of the lights within houseupon detecting a power outage however when removed and used as a remotecontrol it may be capable of controlling only the power outage lights ina shorter range. In operating this way, the power outage detector allowsa user to turn lights on and off in areas of a house that they want tocontrol the lighting but during a power outage all lights would turn onautomatically. It is to be appreciated that any number of transmit powerlevels may be used in conjunction with the claimed subject matter.

In embodiments of wireless lighting modules, there may be a low batteryindicator inside a battery compartment. In embodiments, there may be oneor more colored LEDs or a multicolor LED on a wireless lighting modulethat may provide a visual indication of the battery level. Inembodiments, the low battery indication may be present to alert a userto change or charge batteries. By placing the low battery indicatorinside the battery compartment, a weatherproof wireless lighting modulemay not require an additional weatherproof seal. In embodiments, the lowbattery indicator inside the battery compartment may also eliminate theneed to make the indicator readily viewable by a user. If a usersuspects that the battery may need to be changed, the user may removethe cover of the battery compartment and get an indication of thebattery level. The indicator may be any color and may represent thestatus of the battery in any way such as a green LED may indicated thatthe battery is healthy, a yellow LED may indicate a low battery level, ared LED may indicate a need to change the battery, a multicolor LED mayallow several indications in the same LED. Battery powered wirelesslighting fixtures may have an icon with light bars within the batterycompartment. The light bars may show the battery life of each lightfixture. The indicators may always be illuminated or illuminated when abutton on the fixture or on a remote is pressed. The battery poweredwireless lighting fixture may contain a push button such that a user maytest the battery by pushing the button rather than containing an alwayson indication. The push button may be an illuminated push button toprovide the indication. In alternate embodiments, the low batteryindicator may be positioned to illuminate the optical lens or lighttransmitting cover of a wireless lighting module when the battery islow. A user may see a different color light coming from the wirelesslighting module where the light source may typically provide light andknow from the different color that the battery is at a low level.

In embodiments, a wireless lighting module or device may be capable ofreceiving command, configuration or control on multiple channels and maybe capable of transmitting commands, configuration or control onmultiple channels automatically based on pre-programmed operation. Themethods in embodiments of the programmable wireless lighting device mayinclude direct configuration or control of the unit through one or morebuttons, dials, toggles, switches, levers, knobs, an LED touch screen, akeypad, or any such controls on the unit, configuration of the unit viathe communication interface, configuration of the unit by design,configuration of the unit by factory pre-programming, configuration ofthe unit through processing the inputs and adjusting stateappropriately, configuration of the unit through some sequence of actionto indicated to the unit a configuration and the like. It is to beappreciated that any combination of programming or configuration methodis possible in embodiments of a wireless lighting device. In normaloperation, the wireless lighting device may receive input via itsinterface component or through device programming. Upon receiving aninput, the wireless lighting device may process the input and changestate of the wireless lighting device or transmit one or more commandson one or more channels to disparate wireless lighting devices. Theoperation of the wireless lighting device may be to provide coordinatedoperation of a group of wireless lighting devices, may be to act as anetwork node to forward or repeat a received packet to other wirelesslighting devices and the like. By way of an example, multiple zones maybe configured to operate in an area by setting up different channels foreach set of wireless lighting devices. Wireless lighting devices may beconfigured to respond to multiple channel numbers and as such mayoperate in more than one group of wireless lighting devices.

In an embodiment of wireless controls for a wireless light, a garagedoor opener transmitter may be used to control a wireless lightingdevice. In one embodiment, the wireless lighting device is a batterypowered LED light with a wireless receiver and processor that mayreceive and process the transmission of the remote control for a garagedoor opener. In some embodiments, there may be a method to program thecode of the garage door opener into the wireless lighting device suchthat the wireless lighting device may respond to the transmission andencoding/encryption of the garage door opener. By way of an example, agarage door opener may also control a wireless lighting device such as aporch light or a entry way light such that when the garage door isopened, the wireless lighting device may turn on and when the garagedoor is closed, the wireless lighting device may turn off.

In embodiments of wireless lighting modules and devices, a wirelessremote control transmitter device may be used as a beacon and regularlytransmit commands such that when the wireless transmitter is in therange of wireless lighting device such as a battery powered LED lightscontaining a receiver and responsive to the transmitted command, thelighting device may turn on thereby allowing control of a lightingdevice through its proximity to the transmitter. In some embodiments,the wireless lighting device. By way of an example, a wireless remotecontrol transmitter device may be installed in an automobile. Thetransmitter device may transmit an ON command every 3 seconds. When theautomobile within range of the receiving light, for example pulling intoa driveway or into a garage, the beaconing transmitter willautomatically turn on one or more wireless lighting devices. In thisexample, it may be a porch light, entry way light, path light and thelike. The transmitter device keeps transmitting. After some auto shutofftime, the wireless lights will turn off and not turn on again whenhearing the ON command every 3 seconds until the ON command goes awayfor some period of time for example 30 seconds. Then, the wireless lightis reset and begins listening for the ON command again. A user can pullup and park their car and the lights turn on automatically. They get outand walk inside their house. At 2 minutes, for example, the lights shutoff automatically and stay off. Later, the user leaves for the grocerystore and the wireless lights “reset” and wait for the next ON command.The user returns home and the lights turn on automatically. In someembodiments, a light sensor inside the lights might be used as aday/night sensor to enable the wireless light only when the level ofambient light detected at the light sensor falls below some threshold.

In embodiments of an automatic proximity control for wireless lightingmodules and devices, a beaconing wireless transmitter device may beintegrated into an automobile, onto a person, on a bike, onto a backpack, on a belt clip, smart phone case, a flashlight or any other objectwhere a user may want to automatically control one or more wirelesslights based on the proximity of the beaconing transmitter to thewireless lighting modules and devices. The transmission may send anycommand described herein including an ON command, brightness command,delayed action command, alert or alarm command or the like. The wirelesslighting modules and devices may contain a receiver and processorallowing it to receive and interpret the commands. In some embodiments,the modules and devices may auto shutoff the light source or change theoperation of the modules and devices after some period of time based onthe received command. By way of an example, the modules and devices mayturn ON by the command from the beaconing wireless transmitter devicebut may turn off after some pre-programmed period of time or period oftime received as part of the command. The modules and devices maytransition through multiples states managed by a state managementcomponent where an input component may receive commands that areinterpreted to transition between states and a timer component maymanage timing of the transitions between states. A light intensitycomponent may manage the brightness of the modules and devices.

There may be one or more wireless power sources in the beaconingwireless transmitter device, wireless lighting modules and wirelesslighting devices. By way of an example, a wireless lighting module maybe powered by alkaline batteries. In another example, the beaconingwireless transmitter device may be powered by alkaline batteries or mayhave a connection such that it is powered by an automobile battery. Insome embodiments, a wireless lighting module may be completely off grid.In some embodiments, a wireless lighting device may have a gridconnection. In embodiments, the beaconing wireless transmitter devicemay have additional controls such as push buttons, switches or the liketo control the wireless lighting modules and devices. The interfacecomponent may provide various adaptors, connectors, channels,communication paths, etc. to enable interaction with the beaconingwireless transmitter device. In one embodiment, the beaconing wirelesstransmitter device and wireless lighting modules and devices may have adip switch or channel programming method allowing for a channel numberto be assigned for communication only within a specified group. Inalternate embodiments there may be methods of interference avoidance intime or frequency such that multiple beaconing wireless transmitterdevices may operate in the same area without interfering. In someembodiments, the beaconing wireless transmitter device may be able totransmit at different transmit power levels to allow a user to adjustthe range by which the wireless lights are activated. The transmit powerlevel may change automatically based on the programming of the device orsensors that may be designed into the beaconing wireless transmitterdevice. In some embodiments, a wireless lighting module or device maycontain an environmental sensor such as a motion sensor or light sensor.In some embodiments, the receiver may have an audible alert or alarmthat may be integrated with the wireless light. By way of an example, abattery powered LED porch light that is controlled by the beaconingwireless transmitter device when the transmitter devices comes intorange of the porch light may also have a shrieking alarm that may beenabled by a user to provide a loud audible indication that an objecttagged with the beaconing transmitter is within range. The wirelesslighting module or device may take the form of at least one of a lightbulb capable of mounting into a lighting fixture, a lighting fixture, aretrofit lighting fixture, a lighting adapter, a battery poweredlighting fixture, and the like. A battery powered lighting fixture maybe installed anywhere and may take the form of a spotlight, ceilinglight, path light, night light, porch light, wall light, deck light,garage light, post light, street lamp and the like. The light source maybe comprised of at least one of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs)light sources, an incandescent light source, a fluorescent light source,a halogen light source or the like. By way of an example, a batterypowered LED spotlight may be responsive to the beaconing wirelesstransmitting device. In embodiments, an adapter for a light bulb mayresponds and can override the switch control. In some embodiments, theremay be a battery in the adapter to allow it to power the light sourceindependent of wired power. In some embodiments, the adapter may haveits own light source such that the adapter may illuminate in response tothe beaconing wireless transmitting device. In some embodiments, thebeaconing wireless transmitting device may be capable of sending thewireless transmission in a specific direction. For example, adirectional antenna may be used with the beaconing wireless transmittingdevice such that the object may need to be directed towards the wirelesslighting modules and devices to activate them. By way of an example, anautomobile with a beaconing wireless transmitting device may bepositioned with a direction antenna behind the front grill of theautomobile such that the wireless lights may only be activated when thecar is oriented with the front of the car pointed towards the lightssuch as when a car pulls in a driveway.

In embodiments, wireless and battery powered remote sensors for examplea motion sensor, magnetic switch, pressure sensor etc may have atransmitter and send to a cellular base station that may interpret thesensor data and send a text or transmit data on a change to the sensorstatus. In some embodiments, the cellular base station may have a USBport or similar that a network interface device may plug into to allowit to connect to a particular cellular, WAN, LAN or other network. Insome embodiments, the cellular base station may have a GSM or CDMA modemintegrate that allows it to connect to a wireless network and send atext message to a destination phone number. In embodiments, thedestination phone number may be configured at the base station such thata user may configure the device to send texts or emails to any end userthey desire. In alternate embodiments, the base station may recordinformation in time from sensors around a house, office, secure area etcand display them in some manner to a user. By way of an example, amotion sensor remote transmitter may detect a child walking into a roomor area that they should not be in.

In embodiments of wireless path lights, the wireless path lights may becomprised of a light source, rechargeable battery, charging connectorand wireless control. A charging unit or secondary charging device maybe plugged into a wireless path light at a charging connector torecharge the battery inside the wireless path light. In such anembodiment, a wireless path light would not have to rely on solar cellsto recharge the battery but rather a rechargeable battery inside thedevice may be charged using a recharging unit eliminating the need forsolar energy. The wireless path lights may contain a light source thatis brighter than is typical of solar path lights and may hold a greatercharge/be able to charge more rapidly with a charging unit. The chargingunit may contain multiple connectors to allow several path lights to becharged at the same time.

In embodiments, power supply device or control device may includecircuitry to detect conditions that may allow an intelligent decision onwhich power source to use. The switch sensing device may detect whetherthe controlling switch or breaker applying power to a battery backed ACpowered light bulb is open or closed, if input AC power is present, ifthe quality of the input AC power is acceptable, and the like. Theswitch sensing device may monitor the presence and quality of the inputAC power with circuitry to detect the presence of AC power and make ameasurement of the characteristics of the AC power. It may also measurethe impedance, resistance, and/or capacitance of the AC power input ormay measure any other electrical characteristic of the AC power input todetermine whether the controlling switch or breaker is open or closed(or if electricity has been turned off at any point up to the AC inputof the switch sensing device). The switch or breaker may be any type ofswitch or breaker used to control an electrical or lighting circuit suchas but not limited to toggle switches, dimmer switches, three way ormulti-way switches, timer controlled switches, motion sensor switches,push button or touch switches, paddle switches, solid state switches,slide switches, rotary switches, switches with specialized intelligencebuilt in, open fuses in the electrical or lighting circuit, poly fusesor poly switches, low, medium or high voltage circuit breakers, magneticcircuit breakers, thermal magnetic circuit breakers, common trip circuitbreakers, residual current circuit breakers, earth leakage circuitbreakers and the like. In some embodiments, the switch sensing devicemay store information such that one or more associated light sources maybe able to operate as it was when the outage occurred. For example, theswitch sensing device may be controlled by a dimmer switch, the switchsensing device may store the dim level and when there is a power outage,the switch sensing device may switch to PWM dimming that is similar tothe light intensity level that had been set by the dimmer switch, andthe like. By way of an example, if the controlling switch or breaker isopen, there may be a high impedance detected on the input AC power. Ifthe controlling switch or breaker is closed, there may be a measurableimpedance, resistance and/or capacitance or electrical characteristicdifferent from when the controlling switch or breaker is open. Athreshold may be set in the bulb such that if the measurement is aboveor below the threshold, the switch or breaker is closed, and if themeasurement is on the opposite side of the threshold, the switch orbreaker is open. The switch sensing device and associated one or morelight sources may be controlled by the state of the controlling switchor breaker (on or off), but may also detect the condition when thecontrolling switch or breaker is closed but AC input power is notpresent or is not acceptable and may be able to switch over to therechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries that are embedded as thepower source. Thus, the switch sensing device may be able to switch toembedded battery power without directly knowing whether the switch isopen or closed, but rather by measuring the electrical characteristicsof the AC input. In some embodiments, the switch sensing device may havecircuitry to be able to detect the switch transition from on to off oroff to on. By way of an example, in a power outage, the wall switch maystill be used to control the switch sensing device and associated one ormore light sources that are powered by battery to on or off such thateven when AC is not applied, a transition from switch closed to switchopen will turn off the switch sensing device that is powered by theembedded power source.

In some embodiments, the switch sensing device may perform an impedancediscontinuity check to determine if the controlling switch or breaker isopen or closed. In some embodiments, the switch sensing device maygenerate a signal onto the line and monitor the electrical response ofthe line to determine if the response indicates an impedancediscontinuity typical of an open circuit that may be indicative of aswitch or breaker open in the lighting circuit or if the responseindicates a closed circuit typical of a switch or breaker closed in thelighting circuit. By way of an example, the switch sensing device mayperform a function typical of a time domain reflectometer by generatinga short rise time pulse at the connection to input and monitor the inputfor a reflected signal that would be indicative of an open or closedcircuit. If the reflected signal exceeds a set threshold, it mayindicate an open circuit. In some embodiments, the switch sensing devicemay learn where such a threshold should be set. The switch sensingdevice may be installed in many variations of lighting circuits wherethe amount, length, gauge or type of wiring to the switch or breaker mayvary and where there may be many other sources of loads on the lightingcircuit (such as bulbs, fixtures, multiple switches or controls etc.)therefore it may have to adjust its detection circuitry to operateproperly. The setting of the threshold may be done automatically by theswitch sensing device or manually by a user through any process that mayallow the bulb to be set to a threshold where one side of the thresholdindicates the switch or breaker is open and the other side of thethreshold indicates the switch or breaker is closed. It is to beappreciated that when the switch sense functionality is implemented, theswitch or breaker may still be able to turn on and off power to theswitch sensing device and associated one or more light sources even whenrunning off of the embedded battery power source because the switchsensing device may be able to determine if the switch is on or off andapply power or not apply power to the one or more associated lightsources based on the switch position. The switch sense circuitry maystill be powered along with any other necessary circuitry to implementthis function even when the light source is not being powered. In someembodiments, a device may be designed that may be electrically andmechanically attached to an existing switch or breaker of any typementioned herein such that it may have electrical characteristics thatmay be easily detected by the switch sensing device in an outage. Thedevice, a switch sensing detection module, may be an electrical circuitthat may monitor the state of the switch, open or closed, and whetherpower is present at the input side of the switch. If there is no inputpower, whether the switch is open or closed, the device may insert acircuit with the electrical characteristics that may be easily detectedby the one or more switch sensing devices on the lighting circuit. Thisallows the switching sensing device to be able to detect an outage evenwhen the controlling switch or switches are open by allowing it to beelectrically connected to the input side of the switch. There may becontrol on the device such that the user may enable the switch sensingdevice to turn on when the light switch is open and there is no power atthe input of the switch. If this function is disabled, the user maycontrol the switch sensing device and associated one or more lightsources by the controlling switch, but if the function is enabled, theswitch sensing device may be capable of switching to battery powerwhether the controlling switch is open or closed. The device may not beattached to a switch or breaker, but is the switch or breaker itselfthus the function may be installed by replacing an existing switch orbreaker. In embodiments, the device may physically and electrically beconnected anywhere in a lighting or electrical circuit that it would bedesirable to detect a power outage. In some cases, the switch sensingdevice may not be able to reliably detect the state of the switch inwhich case the device may be added to make the detection of the switchstate reliable.

Referring to FIG. 14, the present invention may provide a switch sensinglighting unit 1400 capable of detecting the state of a controllingdevice such that the light source can have an emergency backup that candetect when the user intended to apply power to the light source butpower is not present. By way of an example, if the controlling device isa standard wall switch, there would be three states including switchopen, switch closed with power applied and switch closed without powerapplied wherein a switch sensing lighting unit can apply power from alocal energy storage device in response to switch closed without powerapplied. The switch sensing lighting unit 1400 may be comprised of alight source 1402, a power input 1404 in electrical association with thelight source and a power supply circuit 1406, an energy storage device1408, a controller 1410 and a sensor 1412. In some embodiments, thelight source may be in the same housing as the other components and insome embodiments the light source may be in a separate housing. Inembodiments, a power input 1404 may be adapted to receive power via apower supply circuit 1406 wherein the power supply circuit receives asupply of external power through a controlling device and includes anenergy storage device. In one embodiment, the power supply circuit 1406receives a supply of AC power through a switch and includes arechargeable battery supplying a source of DC power. The light source1402 may be comprised of at least one of one or more light emittingdiodes (LEDs) light sources, an incandescent light source, a fluorescentlight source, a halogen light source or the like adapted to receivepower via the power input 1404. A sensor 1412 may be configured togenerate an output indicative of an impedance, resistance or capacitanceassociated with the power supply circuit 1406. A controller 1410 may beconfigured to determine the operational state of the controlling devicethrough one or more measurements of the sensor output and may causepower from the energy storage device 1408 to be supplied when externalpower is not present on the power input 1404 and the operational stateof the controlling device indicates that the controlling device is inthe closed or partially closed state (e.g., is configured to apply powerto the power supply circuit 1406). In some embodiments, the controller1410 may make a plurality of measurements to determine the operationalstate of the controlling device. The controller 1410 may be configuredto determine a first impedance, resistance or capacitance valueassociated with the power supply circuit 1406 corresponding to an openoperational state of the controlling device (e.g., is configured not toapply power to the power supply circuit 1406; in one example it is anopen switch). The controller 1410 may be configured to determine asecond impedance, resistance or capacitance value associated with thepower supply circuit 1406 corresponding to a closed operational state ofthe controlling device (e.g., is configured to apply power to the powersupply circuit 1406; in one example it is a closed switch). Thecontroller 1410 may establish a threshold impedance, resistance orcapacitance level based on the first and second values. The controller1410 may determine a third impedance, resistance or capacitance valueassociated with the power supply circuit 1406 when external power is notpresent on the power input 1404 and may cause the power from the energystorage device to be supplied to the light source from the energystorage device 1408 when external power is not present on the powerinput 1404 and a comparison between the third impedance, resistance orcapacitance value and the threshold value indicates the controllingdevice in the closed state. In some embodiments, the controller 1410 maybe configured to allow the threshold value to be manually set. In someembodiments, the controller 1410 may be configured to allow thethreshold value to be automatically set by one or measurements of thepower supply circuit 1406 wherein the threshold value is determined whenthe controlling device is in a known state, when the controller 1410 maypresume what state the controlling device is in or over a period of timewhere one or more measurements may provide a statistical sampling thatmay be used to determine the state of the controlling device. Inembodiments, the sensor generates an output indicative of an impedance,resistance or capacitance associated with the power supply circuit 1406as part of a time domain reflectometry process. In such an embodiment,the sensor 1412 may generate one or more pulses of a given timeduration, amplitude etc, monitor the reflective signals and provide asignal to the controller determined by a measurement or analysis of thereflections in response to the one or more pulses corresponding to animpedance discontinuity, impedance, resistance or capacitance associatedwith the power supply circuit 1406.

In some embodiments, the energy storage device 1408 may be comprised ofat least one of a rechargeable battery, non-rechargeable battery such asan alkaline battery, fuel cell, super capacitor, photovoltaic cell orthe like. The energy storage device 1408 may be integrated in the samehousing with the lighting unit or may be separate from the lighting unitwith an electrical connection to the housing. The controller 1410 may beconfigured to control charging of the energy storage device 1408. Insome embodiments, one or more photovoltaic cells may be used to rechargethe energy storage device 1408. The switch sensing lighting unit 1400may be configured for mounting to an Edison socket. In some embodiments,the claimed subject matter may be designed in any size or shape housingto meet the requirements of any standard size bulb (e.g. PAR30, PAR38,A19, R30, MR16 etc), non-standard size bulb, fixture, compactfluorescent bulb, fluorescent bulb or lamp (e.g. T4, T5, T8, circularetc.) or down light assembly (e.g. recessed fixtures, fluorescentfixtures or down light fixtures for residential, commercial orindustrial lighting), or the like. The lighting unit may be configuredas a retrofit lighting fixture wherein the unit comprises of a housingconfigured for installation into a preexisting structure. Thus, a usermay install or retrofit an emergency light or power failure light thatis capable of performing the switch sensing function into an existinglocation such that there may not be any additional wiring required toadd the emergency lighting or power failure lighting function. Typicalemergency lighting installations require an unswitched power connectionto detect a power outage but a switch sensing lighting unit 1400 may beable to detect the switch position over existing wiring. In otherembodiments, the switch sensing lighting unit 1400 may be designed withthe switch sensing function contained in a power device such as powersupply, ballast, in-line inverter, LED driver or the like with batterybackup wherein a connected lighting device such as one or more LEDdevices, an LED array, an incandescent light bulb, fluorescent tube orthe like may accept power from the switch sensing power device whereinthe source of power may be from the power supply circuit 1406 or fromthe energy storage device 1408 converted to a power output as requiredby the connected lighting device and determined by the sensor 1412 andcontroller 1410. In some embodiments, the switch sensing lighting unit1400 may contain a timer to control the supply of power to the lightsource. In some embodiments, the lighting unit may contain anenvironmental sensor such as a motion sensor, light sensor or the like.By way of an example, a light sensor may be used by the lighting unit tosense a level of ambient light and control the supply of power to thelight source based in part on the output of the light sensor. Thecontroller 1410 may be configured to control the light source to be onor off, the illumination level of the light source or the color of thelight source.

In embodiments, a Switch Sensing Power Outage Light Fixture comprisingof a light source, an integrated battery, a recharge component, aconnection to external power and the switch sensing functionality may bedesigned in a housing to have the switch sensing functionality operatethe light source based on the state of the external power and the stateof the controlling switch or device. In embodiments, the light sourcemay be LED, fluorescent, incandescent or the like. In one embodiment,the Switch Sensing Power Outage Light Fixture may operate as a normallight where turning the controlling switch or device on, off, dimming orsimilar control when there is not a disruption of power however whenthere is a disruption of power if the switch sensing functionalitydetects that the switch is closed, it may use the integrated battery asa power source to illuminate the light source. The normal state of theSwitch Sensing Power Outage Light Fixture may be that the light sourceis not illuminated. In those embodiments, the light source may only beilluminated when a disruption of power is detected and the switch isdetected such as it intends to apply power to the lighting fixture. TheSwitch Sensing Power Outage Lighting Fixture may detect the state of acontrolling switch or device remotely and the Switch Sensing PowerOutage Lighting Fixture may illuminate the light source independent ofthe state of the other lighting devices based on the state of the switchand power on the circuit. In some embodiments, the Switch Sensing PowerOutage Light Fixture may contain a light source, a driver for the lightsource, a connection to the power circuit, an embedded power source, theability to sense the state of one or more controlling devices and acontrol facility to manage the operation of the device. In oneembodiment, the Switch Sensing Power Outage Lighting Fixture may be in ahousing that contains three 1 W LEDs, an LED driver, a connection to ACpower on the circuit it is monitoring, an integrated rechargeablebattery, a recharging component, switch sensing circuitry and aprocessor to act as the control facility to take the detected switchsense and state of power delivered on the circuit and illuminate theLEDs upon certain conditions situated in the same housing. The Fixturemay have an electrical circuit to allow an electrical ORing of the powersources or alternatively may have an electrical circuit allowing thecontrol facility to select the power source for the light source. TheSwitch Sensing Power Outage Lighting Fixture may be installed andoperate as a light normally controlled by a wall switch. When the wallswitch is on and power is available, the Switch Sensing Power OutageLighting Fixture may illuminate its light source powered by the ACpower. When the wall switch is off, the Switch Sensing Power OutageLighting Fixture may not illuminate its light source. The processor maycontrol the Switch Sensing Power Outage Lighting Fixture to implementany function described herein for battery backup lighting capable ofdetecting the state of the controlling switches or devices. The switchsensing circuitry in the Switch Sensing Power Outage Lighting Fixturemay not need external components to detect the state of the switch andfrom a detection of the difference in electrical characteristics at itsexternal power input be capable of determining the state of acontrolling switch or device. In embodiments, a system may be comprisedof a Switch Sensing Power Outage Lighting Fixture and a power outagedetector built into a wall switch or controlling device. The switchsense capability built into a lighting fixture with a power outagedetector built into a wall switch allows the Switch Sensing Power OutageLighting Fixture to detect a power outage prior to an open wall switchvia the power outage detector. When the power outage detector presentsan impedance or other electrical characteristic that the Switch SensingPower Outage Lighting Fixture may detect as an additional level, it mayallow the control facility to add a state to transition to such thatwhen the switch is open and power is not present prior to the switch,the Switch Sensing Power Outage Lighting Fixture may illuminate itslight source. The switch sensing sensor and control facility may be ableto set multiple thresholds to allow measurements to indicate differentconditions of the electrical characteristics of the electrical circuitwhere the Fixture resides to indicate different states of the electricalcircuit and controlling devices.

In embodiments a system may be comprised of a power outage detector anda switch sense capable device such that the power outage detector maysense the state of power prior to a controlling switch or device andpresent an impedance or other electrical characteristic that the switchsense capable device may detect as a 3rd level allowing the switch sensecapable device to transition to a state based on the state of the poweroutage detector. In such an embodiment, when the controlling switch ordevice is open and power is not present prior to the switch, the switchsensing capable device may cause a transition to a new state such as tobe powered by a local or integrated power source when the controllingswitch or device is open and power is not detected prior to the switchvia the power outage detector. Thus, the switch sense capable device maydetect three separate states with respect to the electricalcharacteristics it may measure. It may measure electricalcharacteristics that indicate controlling switch or device open,controlling switch or device closed or controlling switch or device openwith no power prior to the controlling switch or device.

In embodiments, a switch sensing LED light fixture may be comprised of aprocessor with internal programmable dimming control capability, aconnection to external power, a detection circuit to detect whetherexternal power may be present, a switch sense circuit, an integratedbattery and an LED lights source. In such an embodiment, the processormay control the intensity of the light source to extend the amount oftime in which usable light may be available during a power outage. Insome embodiments, the switch sensing LED light fixture may containintelligence to detect the battery capacity level and adjust the lightintensity level to extend the amount of time there is usable light outof the switch sensing LED light fixture. This may take advantage of thecharacteristic of batteries that at lower continuous current levels therate of battery drain will be lower. By way of an example, if there is ashort power outage, the initial light intensity level may be a highlevel, however after some amount of battery drain over some period oftime, the light intensity level may be dropped to a lower levelrequiring less continuous current from the batteries, extending theamount of time the light source may run on batteries (anticipating thatthe power outage may last a long period of time).

In embodiments of lighting devices containing the switch sensingfunctionality, the switch sense function may contain the ability tomeasure the electrical characteristics of the building infrastructuresupplying power to the switch sensing lighting device. The electricalcharacteristics may include the electrical response of the circuitry inthe power distribution or a branch circuit including the connection tothe secondary winding of the transformer supplying power to a building,through the circuit breaker box and through the wiring to every devicethat may be connected in parallel in the power distribution in aresidence, office building etc. On an individual lighting circuit, theremay be a power feed to one or more controlling switches or devices thatcontrol applying power to the devices on that lighting circuit. Thus, onthe downstream side of the switch e.g., on the side of the switchelectrically connected to the circuit breaker, all electrical devicesare in parallel with one another. In the residential case, this includesother lighting devices, appliances like refrigerators, heaters,televisions, computers and the secondary coil of the transformer whenpower enters the building. On the upstream side of the switch e.g., onthe side of the switch electrically connected to the lighting circuit,all of the electrical and lighting devices connected to the lightingcircuit are present. As viewed from the lighting device containing theswitch sensing functionality, the electrical characteristics that can bedetected such as resistance, capacitance, inductance, impedancediscontinuities, responses to generated signals etc are differentdepending on the state of the controlling switches or devices thatcontrol applying power to the devices on the lighting circuit. By way ofan example, a wall switch controlling a lighting circuit may have aclosed or open position either applying power to the lighting circuit ornot applying power to the lighting circuit. If the switch is open, alighting device containing the switch sensing functionality may detector measure at its input power connection the electrical characteristicsof the devices on the upstream side of the switch for example theincandescent, CFL or LED light bulbs, ballasts, ceiling fans, lightingfixtures, alternate forms of control and the like. If the switch isclosed, a lighting device containing the electrical characteristics ofthe electrical devices, appliances, lighting devices etc on thedownstream side of the switch will modify the electrical characteristicsof the circuit as detected or measured at the input power connection ofthe lighting device. The change in electrical characteristics as seen atthe input power connection of the lighting device may be due to theelectrical characteristics of all of the devices added in both upstreamand downstream of the switch contributing to present a differentelectrical circuit to the lighting device. The difference in electricalcharacteristics with the switch open and closed allows a lighting devicewith the switch sensing functionality to determine whether the switch isopen or closed without a change or modification the existinginfrastructure. The sensor within the lighting device may make themeasurement or detection of the electrical characteristics and thecontrol facility may act on that information along with otherconfiguration or programming information to control operation of thelighting device. Embodiments of lighting devices containing the switchsensing functionality eliminate the need for retrofitting, altering theexiting circuitry in the building and provide an out-of-the-box orplug-and-play solution where the entire functionality may be installedwith the installation of the lighting device itself.

In embodiments of grid shifting and switch sensing lighting devices, aGrid Shifting Lighting Device with Switch Sensing Capability may becomprised of a connection to external power, a rechargeable energystorage device, a light source, a sensor for detecting the state of apower delivery switch, a control facility and a housing. In embodiments,a user may turn on, off, dim or control the light source using the powerdelivery switch. When the sensor and control facility detect that thepower delivery switch intends to apply external power to the lightingdevice and external power is not detected by the lighting device, thecontrol facility may apply power to the light source from therechargeable energy storage device. The Grid Shifting Lighting Devicewith Switch Sensing Capability may be powered by the rechargeable energystorage device during a power outage. In cases such as a scheduled poweroutage or rolling blackout, the Grid Shifting Lighting Device withSwitch Sensing Capability may provide illumination for an extendedperiod of time allowing normal operation during the outage. By way of anexample, a manufacturing facility may be able to continue operationduring a scheduled power outage using the Grid Shifting Lighting Devicewith Switch Sensing Capability which would automatically switch over tothe rechargeable energy storage device when the power outage isdetected. The power deliver switch will continue to control the lightingdevice even during the power outage. In embodiments, the lighting devicemay be programmable, may have a real time clock, may be AC or externallypowered and controlled by a wall switch allowing normal light operation,may allow the battery to be recharged while AC power or external poweris applied or when power goes out or may allow a user control the lightsource from the RF remote/controller while powered by the battery powersource. In some embodiments, the Grid Shifting Lighting Device withSwitch Sensing Capability may have an interface to program the LightingDevice allowing the Lighting Device to be programmed to operate based ontime of day. In some embodiments, a wireless receiver in the lightingdevice allows a user to dim a light or select from multiple lightinglevels via a wireless remote control to conserve battery power and thusextend the amount of time that usable light is available. In someembodiments, the power delivery switch contains a motion sensor suchthat the switch sensing function may detect from the power deliveryswitch whether motion has been detected to determine whether toilluminate the light source. In such a case, the motion sensor switchmay contain a battery such that it may continue to operate during thepower outage. The claimed subject matter may be designed in any size orshape housing to meet the requirements of any standard size bulb (e.g.PAR30, PAR38, A19, R30, MR16 etc), non-standard size bulb, fixture,compact fluorescent bulb, fluorescent bulb or lamp (e.g. T4, T5, T8,circular etc.) or down light assembly (e.g. recessed fixtures,fluorescent fixtures or down light fixtures for residential, commercialor industrial lighting), or the like. It is to be appreciated that anycombination of wireless control mentioned herein may be used inconjunction with the claimed subject matter.

In embodiments containing the switch sensing functionality, thefrequency response of a pulse or signal generated by switch sensecircuitry may indicate the position of the controlling switch ordevices. In embodiments of the switch sensing functionality containing asense resistor, a spectrum analysis of the pulse or signal after thesense resistor may provide information to determine the state of thecontrolling switch. The response of the pulse or signal to theelectrical characteristics of the different configurations seen based onthe state of the controlling switches or devices may be detected ormeasured as different based on the state of the switch. By way of anexample, some frequency band in the pulse or signal may be significantlyattenuated by the electrical characteristics of the power feed to theswitch sensing device when the switch is in one state whereas when theswitch is in another state the pulse or signal may not be attenuated.

In embodiments containing the switch sensing functionality, the switchsensing function may be in a separate housing from the lighting device.In some embodiments, the switch sensing sensor may be in a separatehousing. In some embodiments, the switch sensing sensor and controlfacility may be in a separate housing. The components of a switchsensing lighting device may be arranged in any manner to implement theswitch sensing function for a lighting device and the variousarrangements may require electrical or mechanical interfacing betweendifferent housings, enclosures, electrical apparatuses etc to implementthe switch sensing function for the lighting device.

In some embodiments, an intelligent wall switch may contain one or moreenvironmental sensor and an integrated power source such that theintelligent wall switch may detect an environmental condition andcontrol a lighting device even in the absence of external power at thedevice. In one embodiment, a motion sensing intelligent wall switch maycontain a motion sensor and an integrated rechargeable battery such thata switch sensing circuit inside a lighting device may detect from themotion sensing intelligent wall switch whether motion has been detectedto determine whether to illuminate the light source. In such anembodiment, the motion sensor switch contains a battery such that it maycontinue to operate during the power outage. In such an embodiment, themotion sensing intelligent wall switch may open and close a switch tothe external power source when motion is detected however when theswitch is closed and external power is not present, the switch sensingcircuit inside the lighting device will detect this as a power outagecondition and illuminate the light source powered by its local powersource. In another embodiment, an intelligent wall switch with anintegrated power source and a dimming capability may continue to operatea switch sensing lighting device during a power outage. In such a case,the switch sensing circuit may detect an electrical characteristic thatit may associated with an intensity level of the light source such thatthe control facility in the switch sensing lighting device may PWMcontrol, amplitude control, constant current control etc the lightsource to achieve the desired light intensity level. In embodiments, alight sensor may be present in the intelligent wall switch and provide adaylight harvesting function during a power outage where the lightintensity is set based on the ambient light level detected such that theambient light plus the light generated by the light source maintain aconstant light level. This would be done in conjunction with a switchsensing lighting device such that the switch sensing circuit may detectelectrical characteristics of the circuit that represent the lightintensity level required of the switch sensing lighting device tomaintain the proper light intensity level.

Referring to FIG. 15, the present invention may provide a wireless poweroutage lighting system capable of transmitting in a manner that avoidsinterference the wireless power outage lighting system comprising of atleast one power change detection apparatus 1500 and at least onewireless lighting module 1520. The power change detection apparatus 1500may be comprised of a light source 1502, a connector 1504 in electricalassociation with an external power source 1506, an energy storage device1508, an input device 1510, and a wireless transmitter 1512. Thewireless lighting module 1520 may be comprised of a light source 1522,an energy storage device 1528, an input device 1530, and a wirelessreceiver 1532. In some embodiments, the wireless lighting module 1520may have a connector 1524 in electrical association with an externalpower source 1526. In some embodiments, the power change detectionapparatus 1500 may be comprised of an electric power interface inelectrical communication with an electric power source, a detectorconfigured to detect a change in electric power of the electric powersource, a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a lighting actioncommand responsive to the detected change in electric power wherein thewireless transmitter avoids interference with the transmission of asecond power change detection apparatus 1500 in the same range and anenergy storage device configured to provide power to the power changedetection apparatus 1500. The wireless transmitter may avoidinterference with the transmission of a second power change detectionapparatus 1500 in time, frequency or corruption of a transmittedmessage. In order to operate within the same area, a power changedetection apparatus will either have to avoid transmitting at the sametime, on the same frequency or do so by encoding or modulating thetransmission such that simultaneous transmission more than one powerchange detection apparatus will be received correctly by the wirelesslight modules or devices that the transmissions are intended to control.In some embodiments, the power change apparatus may use time divisionmultiplexing or a time slot structure to avoid interference whenmultiple power change detection apparatuses operate in the same area. Insome embodiments, each power change detection apparatus may operate onits own frequency. In embodiments a wireless lighting module or devicemay be comprised of a light source, a receiver configured to receive alighting action command directing the wireless lighting module torespond to the detected change in electric power, a power sourceconfigured to provide power to the light source, a controller configuredto control the power source in response to the lighting action commandand a housing including the light source, the receiver and the powersource. In embodiments of the wireless power outage lighting system, thewireless transmitter of a first power change detection apparatus avoidsinterference with the transmission of a second power change detectionapparatus by transmitting at a first time delay from a detected changein electric power and the second power change detection apparatus avoidsinterference with the transmission of the first power change detectionapparatus by transmitting at a second time delay from a detected changein electric power. The power change detection apparatuses may use a timedelay that is set by assigning a channel number to a power changedetection apparatus corresponding to the delay in time of thetransmission from the detected change in power. The power changedetection apparatuses may have the channel number assigned by at leastone of a dip switch, a device programming method or factoryconfiguration. In embodiments, the power change detection apparatusesmay transmit the channel number as part of the lighting action command.In embodiments of the wireless power outage lighting system, thewireless transmitter of a first power change detection apparatus avoidsinterference with the transmission of a second power change detectionapparatus by transmitting at a different frequency. In embodiments, thewireless power outage lighting system may have a first group of one ormore wireless lighting modules configured to respond to the channelnumber assigned to a first power change detection apparatus and a secondgroup of one or more wireless lighting modules configured to respond tothe channel number assigned to a second power change detectionapparatus. FIG. 16 illustrates embodiments of operating the power changedetection apparatuses in a wireless power outage lighting system.

In embodiments a wireless lighting module or device may be comprised ofa light source, a receiver configured to receive a lighting actioncommand directing the wireless lighting module to respond to thedetected change in electric power, a power source configured to providepower to the light source, a controller configured to control the powersource in response to the lighting action command and a housingincluding the light source, the receiver and the power source. Inembodiments of the wireless power outage lighting system, the wirelesstransmitter of a first power change detection apparatus avoidsinterference with the transmission of a second power change detectionapparatus by transmitting at a first time delay from a detected changein electric power and the second power change detection apparatus avoidsinterference with the transmission of the first power change detectionapparatus by transmitting at a second time delay from a detected changein electric power. The power change detection apparatuses may use a timedelay that is set by assigning a channel number to a power changedetection apparatus corresponding to the delay in time of thetransmission from the detected change in power. The power changedetection apparatuses may have the channel number assigned by at leastone of a dip switch, a device programming method or factoryconfiguration. In embodiments, the power change detection apparatusesmay transmit the channel number as part of the lighting action command.In embodiments of the wireless power outage lighting system, thewireless transmitter of a first power change detection apparatus avoidsinterference with the transmission of a second power change detectionapparatus by transmitting at a different frequency. In embodiments, thewireless power outage lighting system may have a first group of one ormore wireless lighting modules configured to respond to the channelnumber assigned to a first power change detection apparatus and a secondgroup of one or more wireless lighting modules configured to respond tothe channel number assigned to a second power change detectionapparatus.

In an alternate embodiment, the wireless power outage lighting system1500 may be comprised of at least one power change detection apparatus1500 and at least one wireless lighting module 1520. The at least onepower change detection apparatus may be comprised of an electric powerinterface in electrical communication with an electric power source, adetector configured to detect a change in electric power of the electricpower source, a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a lightingaction command responsive to the detected change in electric powerwherein the lighting action command contains a channel number, a channelinput interface and an energy storage device configured to provide powerto the power change detection apparatus. The at least one wirelesslighting module or device may be comprised of a light source, a receiverconfigured to receive a lighting action command directing the wirelesslighting module to respond to the detected change in electric power, apower source configured to provide power to the light source, acontroller configured to control the power source in response to thelighting action command, a channel input interface and a housingincluding the light source, the receiver and the power source. In someembodiments of the power change detection apparatus, the channel numberis determined by the channel input interface. In some embodiments of thepower change detection apparatus, the channel input interface consistsof a plurality of push buttons wherein the each push button correspondsto a lighting action command containing a channel number correspondingto that push button. In some embodiments of the at least one wirelesslighting module, the channel number is selected by using the channelinput interface comprising at least one of a dip switch or a deviceprogramming method. In some embodiments of the wireless power outagelighting system, a first group of one or more wireless lighting modulesis configured to respond to the channel number assigned to a firstlighting action command of the power change detection apparatus and asecond group of one or more wireless lighting modules is configured torespond to the channel number assigned to a second lighting actioncommand of the power change detection apparatus. Any combination ofwireless control mentioned herein may be used in conjunction with theclaimed subject matter.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wireless power outage lighting system,comprising: a first power change detection apparatus comprising: a firstelectric power interface in electrical communication with an electricpower source; a first detector configured to detect a change in electricpower of the electric power source; a first wireless transmitterconfigured to transmit, to a first wireless lighting module, a firstlighting action command after a first time delay and in response to thedetected change in electric power; and a first energy storage deviceconfigured to provide power to the first power change detectionapparatus; the first wireless lighting module comprising: a lightsource; a receiver configured to receive the first lighting actioncommand directing the first wireless lighting module to respond to thedetected change in electric power; a power source configured to providepower to the light source; a controller configured to control the powersource in response to the lighting action command; and a housingincluding the light source, the receiver and the power source; thewireless power outage lighting system further including: a second powerchange detection apparatus comprising: a second electric power interfacein electrical communication with the electric power source; a seconddetector configured to detect the change in the electric power of theelectric power source; and a second wireless transmitter configured to,in response to the detected change, transmit a second lighting actioncommand to a second wireless lighting module after a second time delayto avoid interference with the first wireless transmitter, wherein thesecond lighting action command directs the second wireless lightingmodule to respond to the detected change in electric power.
 2. Thewireless power outage lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first timedelay is set by assigning a channel number to the first power changedetection apparatus, the channel number corresponding to the first timedelay of the transmission.
 3. The wireless power outage lighting systemof claim 2, wherein the channel number is assigned by at least one of adip switch, a device programming method or factory configuration.
 4. Thewireless power outage lighting system of claim 2, wherein the channelnumber is transmitted as part of the first lighting action command. 5.The wireless power outage lighting system of claim 1, wherein the firstwireless transmitter of the first power change detection apparatus isconfigured to transmit at a different frequency from the second powerchange detection apparatus.
 6. The wireless power outage lighting systemof claim 1, wherein a first group of one or more wireless lightingmodules is configured to respond to the channel number assigned to thefirst power change detection apparatus and a second group of one or morewireless lighting modules is configured to respond to the channel numberassigned to the second power change detection apparatus.
 7. A wirelesspower outage lighting system, comprising: a first power change detectionapparatus comprising: a first electric power interface in electricalcommunication with an electric power source; a first detector configuredto detect a change in electric power of the electric power source; afirst wireless transmitter configured to transmit, to a first wirelesslighting module, a first lighting action command on a first channelresponsive to the detected change in electric power, wherein the firstlighting action command contains a first channel number corresponding tothe first channel; a first channel input interface; and a first energystorage device configured to provide power to the power change detectionapparatus; the first wireless lighting module comprising: a lightsource; a receiver configured to receive the first lighting actioncommand directing the first wireless lighting module to respond to thedetected change in electric power; a power source configured to providepower to the light source; a controller configured to control the powersource in response to the first lighting action command; a channel inputinterface; and a housing including the light source, the receiver andthe power source; the wireless power outage lighting system furtherincluding: a second power change detection apparatus comprising: asecond electric power interface in electrical communication with theelectric power source; a second detector configured to detect the changein the electric power of the electric power source; a second channelinput interface; and a second wireless transmitter configured to, inresponse to the detected change, transmit a second lighting actioncommand to a second wireless lighting module on a second channel toavoid interference with the first wireless transmitter, wherein thesecond lighting action command contains a second channel numbercorresponding to the second channel, and the second lighting actioncommand directs the second wireless lighting module to respond to thedetected change in electric power.
 8. The wireless power outage lightingsystem of claim 7, wherein the first channel number is determined by thefirst channel input interface.
 9. The wireless power outage lightingsystem of claim 7, wherein the first channel input interface includes aplurality of push buttons, and wherein the each push button correspondsto a lighting action command containing a channel number correspondingto that push button.
 10. The wireless power outage lighting system ofclaim 7, wherein the first channel number is selected by using the firstchannel input interface comprising at least one of a dip switch or adevice programming method.
 11. The wireless power outage lighting systemof claim 7, wherein a first group of one or more wireless lightingmodules is configured to respond to the first channel number assigned tothe first lighting action command of the first power change detectionapparatus and a second group of one or more wireless lighting modules isconfigured to respond to the second channel number assigned to thesecond lighting action command of the second power change detectionapparatus.